The Yas SeaWorld® Research & Rescue Center looks to ‘Birds of Arabia’ for first science talk of 2024

The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center, the largest dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return center in the region, has announced ‘Birds of Arabia’ as the topic of its next educational Science Talk held on Thursday, January 25 at 6:30pm.

The event will begin with an introduction by Claudia Steuber, Chair of the Emirates Natural History Group in Abu Dhabi (ENHG AD), the oldest NGO dealing with environmental topics in the UAE.

This will be followed by a presentation on the ‘Birds of Arabia’ by Oscar Campbell, resident ornithologist of Nautica Environmental Associates (NEA), sharing his knowledge on the immense diversity of birds inhabiting and migrating through the Arabian Peninsula.

Oscar Campbell, an Irishman who has been living in the UAE since 2006, is a keen natural historian with a particular interest in birds. Currently serving as the chairman of the Emirates Bird Record Committee, he co-authored the third edition of ‘Field Guide to the Birds of the Middle East’.

Thomas Funke, Senior Zoological Education Manager at SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center, will complete this talk by sharing precious tips with the attendees to start their journey as a birder. An open discussion with the three speakers will then conclude the event.

This event marks the fifth Science Talk in a series that began in September 2023. Previous topics covered include corals, sharks, climate change and cuttlefish. The series is part of the Center’s strong commitment towards education, community engagement and marine life conservation.

The Science Talk series at The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center is free to attend with advance registration online. Interested participants can reserve their spot by filling out a form on the Center’s website and presenting the confirmation email upon arrival.

The Center also hosts three tours per week, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4:30pm to 5:30pm guided by members of the education team where guests can enjoy in-depth orientations of the Center’s facilities and public offerings.