Saturday, January 28, 2012

Beach clean-up Doha, Kuwait, January 27th 2012


My 3rd time at Doha beach.
I went a bit exploring this time, further up the northern stretch, where I surprisingly got access to the, from the outside, fenced off salt marshes.
I think they should be a protected area (which they maybe are?) without car wrecks, cupboards and whatever huge and small trash littering it.
Doha beach itself looks better, thanks to our efforts. If only the residents and campers would take care a little more.
The stretch at Doha entertainment city looks devastating.
More trash than ever and the mangroves seem to be finally dead.
That stretch, K's path got no permission to clean (yes, you need permission to clean beaches). The folks from entertainment city declared they take care of it themselves.



Birdcount:

1 Curlew
1 Lesser spotted Eagle
5 Reef Egret
3 Crested Lark
1 Desert Wheatear
1 Ringed Plover
1 Graceful Prinia
a bunch of Waders and Gulls, too far out to be ID-ed
(Gulls were most likely Black-headed Gulls and some Caspian Gulls)
+ 180 Flamingos
3 Barn Swallows


1 dead Shelduck
3 dead Juv. Cormorant


I am trying to ID the plants and AbdrulRahman Al-Sirhan's page was of great help again.
I still have quite a few to go :(


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Past clean-ups (that I've been to - K's path has been out every weekend):






18 comments:

  1. Nicole, I think you are wonderful volunteering and cleaning up this beach. It is a shame there are not more people there like you. Why ask permission, is it a liability thing going on? The oil on the algae looks scary, poor critters. I am glad they got you to help them. Great post and slideshow. Have a wonderful weekend!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it would be great to have more people there helping along.
      Well, it sort of is their property, so we have to ask permission, I guess.

      Delete
  2. really a shame that the entertainment district has decided they'd take care of their own mess - then obviously don't. you do such great work to try to contain the stupidity of humans...

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    Replies
    1. It's sadly no real surprise here in Kuwait :(

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  3. Unbelievable that you have to ask permission to clean up!
    So very sad to see so much rubbish left by thoughtless people.
    Yourself and all the other volunteers are doing a fantastic job Nicole.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Keith.
      Yes, it was saddening and maddening to see the area in front of entertainment city :(

      Delete
  4. SO glad to see there are some people who still care in this world of nonsense!!
    So the birds were shot I imagine?...good grief.
    Good Luck with your plant ID's...

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    Replies
    1. I take the same guess: the birds were shot.
      No proof, but bullets,...

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  5. I googled K's PATH----wonderful organization---so sad it's needed but thank goodness they're there---and people like you!

    Your dead shelduck was heartbreaking---what a gorgeous bird---

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I am glad they are here and double yes about the sad Shelduck (and the Cormorants :()

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  6. I always enjoy your blog, and am impressed by your attention to the trash you find, and also your list of birds. Yesterday I blogged about picking up trash here in the Pacific Northwest: http://web.me.com/larryfisher1/Bikes,_Birds,_and_Beaches/Blog/Blog.html
    Thank you!

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  7. You and the other volunteer are doing a tremendous job. Couldn't shame them with your slideshow into doing something? It makes them look like a third world country.

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    Replies
    1. Sadly that doesn't work well over here. People just don't care :(

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  8. Hi there - well done on the clean up (again!).

    I really like the plants - they have such great adaptations to the lack of water.

    Stewart M - Australia

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  9. You are so awesome for doing this Nicole.

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