Melanistic Greater Flamingo Records from Palestine and Cyprus Between 2013-2015

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Melanistic Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811) Records from Palestine and Cyprus Between 2013-2015 ‫حالة فريدة سوداء اللون من طير النحام الكبير في فلسطين وقبرص‬ By: Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa

A Melanistic Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811) at a salt pond in Umm AlRashrash (Eilat), southern Palestine. Photo by Itai Shanni. http://caloosabirdclub.org/2013/11/black-greater-flamingo-spotted-in-israel/

A Melanistic Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811) was observed for the first time at the salt ponds of Umm Al-Rashrash (Eilat), southern Palestine near the Jordanian border in March 2013. This bird was also observed in the same area in February 2014.

It could be the one and only black Greater Flamingo in the world.

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A Melanistic Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811) at a salt pond in Umm AlRashrash (Eilat), southern Palestine. March & April 2013. http://www.birdersplayground.co.uk/Israel%202013%20Ibis,%20Flamingo,%20Pelicans,%20Spo onbills.html

Melanism is a genetic irregularity which causes animals to develop more melanin than usual, turning them a dark shade of brown or black (Messenger, March 2014).

There have been other sightings of an all-black flamingo before along their migration route from Europe to Africa, but given the rarity of this condition, it is suspected that they have all been of the same bird (Messenger, March 2014).

This isn't the first time that a bird has made headlines for its unconventional plumage. In 2010, an all-black penguin was photographed on the island of South Georgia, near Antarctica. At the time, biologists described the discovery "one in a zillion kind of mutation" (Messenger, March 2014).

Fortunately, the black flamingo looks healthy despite being a bit different than the rest of the flock. And if the birds embarrassed about it, well, it's certainly not showing (Messenger, March 2014).

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A Melanistic Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811) at a salt pond in Umm AlRashrash (Eilat), southern Palestine. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/345721708867184118/

In April 2015, an extremely rare black flamingo has been spotted on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, exciting nature lovers who said it may be the only bird of its type ever seen (Daily News, April 2015).

The flamingo, seen on the banks of a salt lake on Wednesday morning 08.04.2015, is thought to have a genetic condition known as melanism, which causes it to generate more of the pigment melanin, turning it dark, rather than the usual pink color (Daily News, April 2015).

“From what have seen on the Internet, there was only one other sighting ... in Palestine, so maybe this is the second one,” said Pantelis Charilaou, head of the environmental department of the British Sovereign Bases, territory under the control of former colonial power where the bird was seen (Daily News, April 2015).

The flamingo, entirely black, save for a tuft of white feathers on its rear, was feeding with others on the banks of the lake on Wednesday afternoon. Experts said it may be the same one that was spotted in Palestine in 2014 (Daily News, April 2015).

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The sighting in Cyprus happened during a flamingo count at a sprawling salt lake at the Akrotiri environmental center on the southern coast of Cyprus (Daily News, April 2015).

“A melanistic individual is a very, very rare sighting ... basically it’s the opposite of an albino, when the individual produces more melanin than normal,” Charilaou told Reuters Television (Daily News, April 2015).

Up to 20,000 greater flamingos descend on Akrotiri salt lake each year (Daily News, April 2015).

A Melanistic Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811) at a salt pond in Umm AlRashrash (Eilat), southern Palestine in March 2013. Photo by David. http://strangesounds.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/black-flamingo-israel-march-2014.jpg Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 147 – March 2017

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The Melanistic Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811) was spotted in Umm AlRashrash (Eilat), southern Palestine on 8th August 2013 by Yoav Perlman. http://strangesounds.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/melanistic-black-flamingo.jpg

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811) The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread species of the flamingo family. It is found in parts of Africa, southern Asia (Bangladesh and coastal regions of Pakistan and India), and Palestine, and southern Europe (including Spain, Albania, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Italy and the Camargue region of France). Some populations are short distance migrants, and sightings north of the breeding range are relatively frequent; however, given the species' popularity in captivity, whether or not these are truly wild individuals is a matter of some debate. A single bird was seen on North Keeling Island (Cocos (Keeling) Islands) in 1988 (Wikipedia; Khalaf-von Jaffa, February 2017).

Description This is the largest species of flamingo, averaging 110–150 cm (43–60 in) tall and weighing 2–4 kg (4.4–8.8 lbs). The largest male flamingos have been recorded at up to 187 cm (74 in) tall and 4.5 kg (10 lbs). It is closely related to the American flamingo and Chilean flamingo, with which it has sometimes been considered conspecific, but that treatment is now widely seen (e.g., by the American and Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 147 – March 2017

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British Ornithologists' Union) as incorrect and based on insufficient evidence (Wikipedia; Khalaf-von Jaffa, February 2017).

Like all flamingos, this species lays a single chalky-white egg on a mud mound.

Most of the plumage is pinkish-white, but the wing coverts are red and the primary and secondary flight feathers are black. The bill is pink with a restricted black tip, and the legs are entirely pink. The call is a goose-like honking. Subadult flamingos are whitish-grey and only attain the pink coloration several years into their adult life. The coloration comes from the carotenoid pigments in the organisms that live in their feeding grounds (Wikipedia; Khalaf-von Jaffa, February 2017).

The bird resides in mudflats and shallow coastal lagoons with salt water. Using its feet, the bird stirs up the mud, and then sucks water through its bill and filters out small shrimp, seeds, blue-green algae, microscopic organisms and mollusks.

The greater flamingo feeds with its head down and its upper jaw is movable and not rigidly fixed to its skull (Wikipedia; Khalaf-von Jaffa, February 2017).

A black flamingo is seen in a salt lake at the Akrotiri Environmental Centre on the southern coast of Cyprus. Photo by Marinos Meletiou/Reuters. http://www.thezanytimes.com/2015/04/very-rareblack-flamingo-spotted-in-cyprus/

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Rare black flamingo is spotted at a salt lake on the island of Cyprus. Photo from the Akrotiri Environmental Education Centre Facebook page. http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/blackflamingo-spotted-in-cyprus-a-rare-sighting/#0ZS0VAweDqsVzwbw.97

Lifespan The average lifespan in captivity, according to Zoo Basel, is over 60 years.

The oldest known greater flamingo was a bird at the Adelaide Zoo in Australia who died aged at least 83 years old. The bird's exact age is not known; he was already a mature adult when he arrived in Adelaide in 1933. He was euthanized in January 2014 due to complications of old age. Known as "Greater" or "Flamingo 1", Adelaide Zoo's greater flamingo survived an attack by four youths in 2008 (Wikipedia; Khalaf-von Jaffa, February 2017).

Relationship with Humans Captivity The first recorded zoo hatch was in 1959 at Zoo Basel. In Zoo Basel's breeding program over 400 birds have been hatched with an average of between 20 and 27 per year since 2000.

In January, 2014, an 83-year-old greater flamingo, believed to be the oldest in the world, died at the Adelaide Zoo in Australia where it had lived since 1933 (Wikipedia; Khalaf-von Jaffa, February 2017).

Threats In the Rann of Kutch salt marsh of India and Pakistan, greater flamingos are occasionally electrocuted when they sit on 1000-watt electric cables near their Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 147 – March 2017

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breeding areas. Recently 139 deaths were officially recorded in the region (Wikipedia; Khalaf-von Jaffa, February 2017).

History Roman emperors considered flamingo tongues a delicacy (Wikipedia; Khalaf-von Jaffa, February 2017).

Rare black flamingo is spotted at a salt lake on the island of Cyprus .. AP Photo/Pavlos Vrionides. http://metro.co.uk/2015/04/10/scientists-have-spotted-the-extremely-rare-black-flamingo-out-inthe-med-5144263/

References and Internet Websites ABC News (31.01.2014). Flamingo believed to be world's oldest dies at Adelaide Zoo aged 83. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-31/adelaide-zoo27s-83-year-old-flamingo-put-down/5230258 BirdLife International (2012). Phoenicopterus roseus. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Daily News (April 10, 2015). Black flamingo spotted in Cyprus may be only bird of its type ever seen.

REUTERS. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/extremely-rare-black-flamingo-spottedcyprus-article-1.2180419 Dardona, Ayman Wadi’ Youssef (M.Sc. Limnology) and Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa (Dr.Sc. Zoology) (2015). Studying Aquatic Birds in the area between the Gaza Fishermen Port and Wadi Gaza Estuary, Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 124, April 2015.

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9 pp. 22-39. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://birds-ofpalestine.webs.com/gaza-aquatic-birds Caloosa Bird Club (November 21, 2013). Black Greater Flamingo Spotted in Israel. http://caloosabirdclub.org/2013/11/black-greater-flamingo-spotted-in-israel/ Idoubtit (March 17, 2014). All flamingos are pink: Except when they are black. http://doubtfulnews.com/2014/03/all-flamingos-are-pink-except-when-they-areblack/ Khalaf, Nora Norman Ali Bassam (Fotografin, 11 Jahre) (28 Juni 2010). Foto: Junger Strauß, Vogel und Tier Markt, Sharjah, Vereinigte Arabische Emirate. Fotocommunity. www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/display/21915604 Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam (1980). Tabie’t Al-Talawon fi Al-Haywanat (The Colouration of Animals). Al-Biology Bulletin. Number 1. January 1980, Safar 1401.

Biological Society, Kuwait University, State of Kuwait. pp. 4-5. (in Arabic).

Khalaf, Norman Ali (1983). The Pine Bunting in Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. First Year. Number 1. July 1983. pp. 10-13. Al Salimiah, State of Kuwait. (In Arabic). http://issuu.com/drnormanalibassamkhalaf/docs/the_pine_bunting_in_palestine_gazel/1 Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam (1984). The Palestine Bulbul. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Second Year. Number 5. May 1984. pp. 19-20. Hanweiler, Saarland, Federal Republic of Germany. (in Arabic).

Rare black flamingo is spotted at a salt lake on the island of Cyprus .. AP Photo/Pavlos Vrionides. http://metro.co.uk/2015/04/10/scientists-have-spotted-the-extremely-rare-black-flamingo-out-inthe-med-5144263/ Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 147 – March 2017

10 Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam (1984-1985). The Weasel Project: Scientific Research on captive weasels (Mustela nivalis, Linnaeus 1766) in the Department of Zoology, University of Durham, Durham, England, during the Academic Year 1984-1985.

Supervisor: Dr. Nigel Dunstone. Unpublished scientific research and data & scientific diary. Research Notebook. pp. 1-52.

Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam (1985). The Arabian Ostrich. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Department of Zoology, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom. Volume 3. Number 6. April 1985. pp. 1-7. (in Arabic).

Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam (1986). A List of the Birds of Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178-6288. Department of Zoology, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom. Number 8. Fourth Year. January 1986 AD, Jamada Oula 1406 H. pp. 1-24. (In Arabic and English).

Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam (1987). A Trip to Kuwait Zoo, State of Kuwait. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Federal Republic of Germany.

Fifth Year, Number 13, Ramadan 1407 AH, April 1987 AD. pp. 1-5. (in Arabic).

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam (1991). A Trip to Zoo Budapest, Hungary. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Federal Republic of Germany.

Number 21, Ninth Year, January 1991. pp. 1-4.

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam (1992). An Introduction to the Animal Life in Palestine. Gazelle. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Federal Republic of Germany. Number 30, Tenth Year, October 1992. pp. 1-7. (in Arabic).

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam (1994). An Introduction to the Animal Life in Palestine. Shqae'q Al-Nouma'n (Anemone coronaria). A Quarterly Magazine Issued by the Program EAI (Education for Awareness and for Involvement). Environmental Education / Children for Nature Protection. In Cooperation with Dept. of General and Higher Education. P.L.O., Palestine. Number 4. Huzairan (June) 1994. pp. 16-21. (in Arabic).

Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam (2001). The Extinct and Endangered Animals in Palestine.

In: Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin Home Page. Extinct and Endangered Animals and Reintroduction. http://gazelle.8m.net/photo3.html Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2004). Gazelle: Das Palästinensische Biologische Bulletin.

Eine Wissenschaftliche Reise in Palästina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1983 – 2004 / Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. A Scientific Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1983 – 2004. ISBN 3-00-014121-9. Erste Auflage, Juli 2004: 452 Seiten.

Zweite erweiterte Auflage, August 2004: 460 Seiten. Norman Ali Khalaf, Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Germany. http://dr-norman-ali-khalaf-books.webs.com/ Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2005). The Rafah Zoo in the Rafah Refugee Camp, Gaza Strip, Palestine : A Story of Destruction by the Israeli Occupation Army. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 46, Twenty-third Year, October 2005, Ramadan 1426. pp. 1-11. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (in Arabic).

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam (2005). The Qalqilia Zoo and the Natural History Museum in the City of Qalqilia, West Bank, Occupied Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 47, Twenty-third Year, November 2005, Shawal 1426. pp. 110. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (in Arabic).

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam (Member of PALESTA) (2005). Palestinian Scientists and Technologists Abroad (PALESTA). Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 47, Twenty-third Year, November 2005, Shawal 1426. pp. 11-12.

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (in Arabic).

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A painting of the Greater Flamingo. A Special Painting which was painted for this article by my friend the Biologist and Artist Raguib Uddin Ahmed from Dhaka, Bangladesh. 30.06.2015 … The Greater Flamingo was living and breeding in Bangladesh; but since the last 50 years it was not seen or reported. This bird was hunted at the Dublar Char - a sea side part of the great World Heritage site The Sundarbans between 1930-1940’s.

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12 Khalaf, Norman Ali (2005, 2006, 2007). Chapter 3: Geography, Flora and Fauna. Pages 32-39. In: Palestine: A Guide. By Mariam Shahin, Photography by George Azar. CoAuthor: Norman Ali Khalaf. Northampton, Massachusetts: Interlink Publishing Group, 2005, 2006, 2007. xi + 471 pages. Appendices to page 500. http://ipsnewsite.mysite4now.com/journals.aspx?id=7323&jid=1&href=fulltext Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (Gründer) (seit Juni 2007).

Yahoo! Deutschland Group: Fauna Palaestina. http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/Fauna_Palaestina/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (Gründer) (seit September 2007). Yahoo! Deutschland Group: Fauna Arabica. http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/Fauna_Arabica/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). Haywanat Filistin ‫( حيوانات فلسطين‬The Animals of Palestine). Wikipedia, Al-Mawsu'a Al-Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia). Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178-6288. Number 69, September 2007. Pp. 1-4. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AD%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7 %D8% AA_%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86 Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2009). Flora and Fauna in Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 91, July 2009, Rajab 1430 AH. pp. 1-31. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://flora-faunapalestine.webs.com/ Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2009). Fauna Palaestina – Part One. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1983 – 2006 / Fauna Palaestina – Teil Eins. Eine Zoologische Reise in Palästina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1983 – 2006. ISBN 978-9948-03-865-8. Erste Auflage/First Edition, September 2009: 412 Seiten/Pages. Self Publisher: Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates & Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. http://dr-norman-ali-khalaf-books.webs.com/faunapalaestinapart1.htm Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Zoologist, Ecologist and Geologist: The Scientific References (1980-2009). http://dr-norman-ali-khalafreferences.webs.com/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2009). An ancient Arabian Ostrich (Struthio camelus syriacus) egg-shell from the Village of Qidfa, Emirate of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Twenty-seventh Year, Number 96, December 2009, Thu Al Hijja 1430 AH. pp. 1-25.

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://arabian-ostrich.webs.com/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2009). The RedNecked Ostrich (Struthio camelus camelus Linnaeus, 1758) at Dubai Zoo, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Twentyseventh Year, Number 96, December 2009, Thu Al Hijja 1430 AH. pp. 26-28. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://arabianostrich.webs.com/ostrichdubaizoo.htm Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (Photographer) (09 December 2009). Photo: Ancient Arabian Ostrich Egg Shell / Alte arabische Straußeneischale.

Emirat Fujairah, V. A. Emirate.

Fotocommunity. www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/1213259/display/22065236 Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 147 – March 2017

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A Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811) at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary in Dubai, UAE. Photo by my precious daughter Nora Norman Ali Khalaf. 13.06.2015. https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/18979505295/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (Photographer) (15 December 2009). Photo: Ancient Arabian Ostrich Egg Shell, Qidfa Village, Emirate of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/1213259/display/21831255 Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (Fotograf) (04 August 2010). Foto: Nordafrikanische Strauß, Dubai Zoo, Dubai, Vereinigte Arabische Emirate.

Fotocommunity. www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/1213259/display/21993963 Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2010). Fauna Emiratus - Part One. Zoological Studies in the United Arab Emirates between 2004 - 2009. / Fauna Emiratus – Teil Eins. Zoologische Studien in die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate zwischen 2004 - 2009. ISBN 978-9948-15-462-4. Erste Auflage/First Edition, November 2010: 350 Seiten / Pages. Self Publisher: Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates & Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. http://dr-norman-ali-khalaf-books.webs.com/faunaemiratuspart1.htm Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2012). Fauna Palaestina – Part Two. Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 147 – March 2017

14 Zoological Studies in Palestine between 1983 – 2009 / Fauna Palaestina - Teil Zwei.

Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 1983 – 2009. ISBN 978-9948-16-667-2.

1. Auflage / First Edition : July 2012, Shaaban 1433 H. 208 Seiten / Pages (Arabic Part 120 Pages and the English Part 88 Pages). Publisher: Dar Al Jundi Publishing House, Jerusalem, Palestine. http://dr-norman-ali-khalafbooks.webs.com/faunapalaestinapart2.htm Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2013). Fauna Palaestina – Part Three.

Zoological Studies in Palestine between 2005 – 2012 / Fauna Palaestina - Teil Drei.

Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 2005 – 2012. ISBN 978-9950-383-35-7. Erste Auflage / First Edition : July 2013, Shaaban 1434 H. 364 pages (English Part 350 Pages and the Arabic Part 14 Pages). Publisher: Dar Al Jundi Publishing House, Jerusalem, State of Palestine. http://dr-norman-ali-khalafbooks.webs.com/faunapalaestinapart3.htm Khalaf-von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2014). Fauna Palaestina – Part Four.

Zoological Studies in Palestine between 1983 – 2014 / Fauna Palaestina - Teil Vier.

Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 1983 – 2014. ISBN 978-9950-383-77-7. Erste Auflage / First Edition : July 2014, Ramadan 1435 H. pp. 456 (English part 378 pages and Arabic part 78 pages). Publisher: Dar Al Jundi Publishing House, Al-Quds (Jerusalem), State of Palestine. http://fauna-palaestina-part1.webs.com/faunapalaestina4.htm Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2014). The Animals living inside and around the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin.

ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 116, August 2014, Shawal 1435 AH. pp. 1-23. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://animals-of-makkah.webs.com/ Khalaf-von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2015). Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Award for Biodiversity in Palestine 2012 / 2013 : Essay and Photography Contest of the Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea Bonaparte, 1856). Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 124, April 2015. pp. 1-21. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://dr-norman-ali-khalafreferences.webs.com/drnormanakhalafaward.htm Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2015). Plants and Animals unique to Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 125, May 2015. pp. 1-18. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://flora-fauna-palestine-2.webs.com/ Khalaf-von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2015). Fauna Palaestina – Part Five.

Zoological Studies in Palestine between 1983 – 2016 / Fauna Palaestina - Teil Fünf.

Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 1983 – 2016. ISBN 978-9950-383-92-0. Erste Auflage / First Edition : July 2015, Ramadan 1436 H. 448 pp. (English Part 304 Pages and the Arabic Part 144 Pages). Publisher: Dar Al Jundi Publishing House, Al-Quds (Jerusalem), State of Palestine. http://fauna-palaestina-books.webs.com/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2016). The First Palestinian Wildlife Photography Exhibition in the Gaza Strip in November 2014.

Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 138, June 2016. pp. 1-35. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://dr-norman-ali-khalafreferences.webs.com/gazawildlifephoto2014.htm Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2016). The Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 147 – March 2017

15 Presence of the Hoopoe (Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758) in the Gardens of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 139, July 2016. pp. 1-23. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://animals-ofuae.webs.com/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2016). The Hoopoe )Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758) in Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 140, August 2016. pp. 1-21. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://animals-of-palestine-2.webs.com/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2016). The Desert Tawny Owl (Strix hadorami Kirwan, Schweizer and Copete, 2015): New Species of Bird Discovered in Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 142, October 2016. pp. 1-13. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://birds-of-palestine.webs.com/desert-tawny-owl Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2016). The Pine Bunting (Emberiza leucocephalos Gmelin, S.G., 1771) in Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 143, November 2016, pp. 1-6. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (In Arabic). http://birds-of-palestine.webs.com/pinebunting Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2016).

Haywanat Falastin (Fauna of Palestine) ‫ حيوانات فلسطين‬. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 144, December 2016, pp. 1-18. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (In Arabic). http://animals-of-palestine-2.webs.com/fauna-ofpalestine-arabic Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2017). Bateleur Eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus Daudin, 1800) : A Rare Record in Palestine in 2015 / Der Gaukler (Terathopius ecaudatus) in Palästina / ‫ من الطيور النادرة في‬: ‫العُقاب البهلواني أو العُقاب المُصفق‬ ‫ فلسطين‬. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 145, January 2017. pp. 1-22. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (In English, German and Arabic). http://birds-of-palestine.webs.com/bateleur-eagle Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2017). Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811) at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 146, February 2017. pp. 1-25. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://animals-of-uae.webs.com/greater-flamingo Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2017).

Melanistic Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811) Records from Palestine and Cyprus Between 2013-2015. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 147, March 2017. pp. 1-16. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://birds-of-palestine.webs.com/ Khalaf, Ola Mostafa (Fotografin) (27 July 2007). Foto: Strauß, Qaryet Al Asad (Löwe Dorf), Kairo-Alexandria Wüsten-Straße, Ägypten. Fotocommunity. www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/extra/buddies/display/21947580 Khalaf, Ola Mostafa (Fotografin) (02 August 2010). Foto: Afrikanische Straußeneier / African Ostrich Egg-shell. Souk Al Arsah, Sharjah, Vereinigte Arabische Emirate.

Fotocommunity. www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/extra/buddies/display/22032858 Khaleej Times (05.07.2013). UAE wetlands named sites of international importance.

Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 147 – March 2017

16 http://www.khaleejtimes.com/mobile/inside.asp?xfile=/data/nationgeneral/2013/Jul y/nationgeneral_July86.xml&section=nationgeneral Lynch, Alison (10.04.2015). Scientists have spotted the extremely rare BLACK flamingo – out in the Med. http://metro.co.uk/2015/04/10/scientists-have-spotted-the-extremelyrare-black-flamingo-out-in-the-med-5144263/ Messenger, Stephen (14.03.2014). Black is the New Pink for this Rare Flamingo. The Dodo. https://www.thedodo.com/black-is-the-new-pink-for-this-464168411.html Robertson, Cheryl (06.05.2013). Dubai's Ras Al Khor a flamingo flyway. Gulf News. http://gulfnews.com/leisure/dubai-s-ras-al-khor-a-flamingo-flyway-1.1179657 Simpson, Colin (15.04.2012). Flamingos in the pink at Ras Al Khor. The National. http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/environment/flamingos-in-the-pink-atras-al-khor Strange Sounds. Black Flamingo? Fascinating Melanistic Greater Flamingo Pictured in Eilat, Israel. http://strangesounds.org/2014/03/black-flamingo-fascinating-melanisticgreater-flamingo-pictured-in-eilat-israel-video.html Strege, David (April 08, 2015). Black flamingo spotted in Cyprus is a rare sighting. http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/black-flamingo-spotted-in-cyprus-a-raresighting/#0ZS0VAweDqsVzwbw.97 Tatzpit. Greater Flamingo. http://www.tatzpit.com/site/en/pages/inPage.asp?catID=9&subID=10&subsubID=32 3 The Zany Times. Very rare black flamingo spotted in Cyprus. http://www.thezanytimes.com/2015/04/very-rare-black-flamingo-spotted-in-cyprus/ Wikipedia. Cyprus. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus Wikipedia. Eilat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eilat Wikipedia. Greater Flamingo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_flamingo Wikipedia. Rosaflamingo. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosaflamingo

The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) at Dubai Museum, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Photo by Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa. 21.06.2015. https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/18988627918/ Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 147 – March 2017