Aqaba Bird Observatory

Aqaba Bird Observatory sits in the Al-Salam forest near Jordan's southern border crossing at Wadi Araba, a small protected site that plays an outsized role in the lives of migratory birds crossing between Africa and Eurasia.

About Aqaba Bird Observatory

Established in 2004 and managed by Jordan's Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSCN), Aqaba Bird Observatory is a monitoring station rather than an astronomical observatory - its work is dedicated to migratory birds, not the night sky. Covering just half a square kilometre, it is the last rest stop before migrating birds cross into the Sinai Desert, and the first one they reach on their return journey.

History

Since opening in 2004, the observatory has built up records covering 271 bird species - around 61 percent of all species recorded in Jordan - and it now supports over half a million migrating birds passing through each year.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in Aqaba, on Jordan's Red Sea coast, near the South Wadi Araba border crossing, in the country's far south.

Visiting Aqaba Bird Observatory

As a nature reserve run by the RSCN, Aqaba Bird Observatory welcomes visitors interested in birdwatching; check the RSCN's website or Aqaba's tourism authority for current opening times and guided visit arrangements before travelling, since hours can vary with the migration season.

See your named star from here

Aqaba Bird Observatory exists for birds, not stargazing, but the Gulf of Aqaba's desert skies away from city lights are genuinely dark. If your named star happens to be visible over southern Jordan, the star catalogue will give you its exact coordinates to look for on a clear desert night.