Migratory Birds Raise Suspicion in Sudan.. "Accusations of Espionage"

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The small metal ring that encircles the leg of a migratory bird is nothing more than a scientific trace of a long journey across continents, but in Sudan, it can become a sufficient reason for suspicion.

A small device attached to the back of the bird, along with numbers and codes on the ring on its leg, has opened the door to narratives of "spying," rather than being viewed as part of scientific research tracking bird movements in one of the most complex natural phenomena on Earth.

In recent years, migratory birds found in several populated areas of Sudan, carrying metal rings or tracking devices, have sparked waves of suspicion and controversy. In some cases, citizens treated the birds as "suspicious," especially when they were exhausted or injured, while the devices they carried were monitoring a scientific journey spanning thousands of kilometers.

The matter has gained particular importance in Sudan, which is located on one of the most important natural corridors for bird migration between Europe, Asia, and Africa, benefiting from its geographical location along the Nile River and the Red Sea, and from the diversity of its natural environments.

One of the most controversial incidents in recent years, according to specialists, was the case of the Great White Pelican that was found in Sudan, carrying a wireless tracking device attached to its back and an aluminum ring on one of its legs.

These sensitive scientific devices that the bird carried quickly became a source of rumors, with stories circulating that it was a "spy bird" or carrying listening devices.

However, the truth, according to specialists, was much simpler: the device is part of a scientific program to track bird movements and study their migration paths.

In another incident, citizens in the village of Hala Younis in the Berber area of the Nile River State found a migratory bird, a White Stork, exhausted from travel and stress, as documented in video clips circulated on social media in Sudan over the past few days.

The bird was carrying metal and plastic seals and rings that included codes and numbers, which in turn raised fears and questions.

However, the Wildlife Protection Police in the Nile River State later officially announced the death of the migratory bird before the technical team that was dispatched to the site of its fall arrived.

The police explained at the time, based on veterinary reports, that the bird is believed to have traveled thousands of kilometers during its migration from the European continent to Sudan, and that signs of stress and hunger were clearly visible before its death. The police confirmed the seizure of the deceased bird and the retention of the tag and ring attached to its leg, in preparation for handling it according to the relevant procedures.

However, tracking device data later revealed a more intriguing aspect of the bird's story; it showed that it was released on July 1, 2025, and traveled approximately 4,049 kilometers until it reached the Berber area, according to data from the Bird Science Station of the Polish Academy of Sciences. While its journey held scientific value for tracking bird movements across continents, the bird's life ended due to heat stress and a wing injury, as officially confirmed by the Wildlife Protection Police in Sudan.

On the other hand, this figure, 4,049 kilometers, provides an idea of the distance a migratory bird can cover before reaching Sudan, and it reveals how a small device attached to its body can turn the journey of a single bird into a cross-border scientific record.

Nevertheless, these cases do not seem isolated. Concerns have been repeated with different species of birds, including storks, herons, and vultures, which carry metal rings or markings and numbers used by research programs to document their movements.

In this context, Dr. Mohamed Al-Makki Ali Al-Badawi, a professor of ornithology and wetlands at the Department of Wildlife at the Faculty of Natural Resources at Sinnar University, stated that the white stork, locally known as "Al-Bajbar," belongs to the family and species of storks that also includes the famous "Al-Sambr" in Sudan.

Al-Badawi also confirmed to Al-Arabiya.net/Al-Hadath.net that Sudan is of great importance to birds, as it is traversed by the most important natural corridors and pathways for bird migrations between Europe and Asia, in addition to internal migrations within Africa, thanks to its geographical location along the Nile River and the Red Sea and the diversity of its natural environments.

However, he clarified that "the journey that seems calm from afar is not so for the birds in reality. They face multiple dangers including hunting, power lines, waste, fires, collisions with aircraft, stress, and drought, in addition to the possibility of some individuals straying from their flocks and losing their migratory path."

Furthermore, the spokesperson emphasized that "humans themselves pose another significant threat, as the lack of environmental awareness and misconceptions among some local communities, along with a lack of expertise and scientific information related to dealing with birds, can turn a fatigued migratory bird into a suspect instead of rescuing it." Al-Badawi confirmed that these incidents have occurred frequently, resulting in the loss of many migratory bird species, some of which are rare or endangered.

As for the band that raises suspicions, it is often nothing more than a small scientific identification tag. Al-Badawi explained that leg bands (Banding/Ringing) are very light metal rings weighing only a few grams, made of aluminum or reinforced plastic, and carry symbols, numbers, and dates, and sometimes a phone number or the name of a research center.

He added that research entities capture the birds to be monitored, place rings and markers on them, especially small birds or during the molting period and before the breeding season, then release them and monitor them during migration to understand their routes, migration times, and wintering areas.

Then, the data carried by the rings and devices are recorded and sent to specialized research centers through specific communication channels, such as email.

Each research center has its distinctive marks, which may appear in different colors, including blue, yellow, and others.

As for modern tracking devices (GPS/Satellite Transmitters), they are smaller in size, with some weighing only a few grams, and they operate with miniature solar panels and electronic chips that allow tracking the bird's movement via satellites.

The device attached to the back of a small bird may seem like a mysterious piece of technology, but for scientists, it is a window into a whole world. Monitoring and tracking allow for understanding the times and routes of bird migration, studying the environmental reasons behind their declining numbers, observing climate changes, and helping to predict transboundary diseases.

These data also contribute to bird protection programs and the conservation of species, especially those that are threatened, in coordination with governments, organizations, and associations concerned with bird protection.

Thus, the journey of a single bird becomes a source of information that transcends its geographical boundaries, as its data can help in understanding the changes occurring in environments that span across several continents.

In the case of the Lappet-faced Vulture, the thousands of kilometers it traveled were not just a number on an electronic device; they transformed into scientific information revealing part of the path that birds take between continents, while simultaneously providing a picture of the dangers they may face at the end of their journey.

Moreover, the importance of migratory birds does not stop at being part of biodiversity. Al-Badawi confirmed that they play a role in supporting environmental and agricultural balance, as they feed on insects and agricultural pests, helping to reduce them through natural biological means, while some species act as natural pollinators for plants.

At the same time, birds are an "indicator and environmental detector" of the health of the ecosystem and the environment in general, according to Al-Badawi.

The decline in their numbers or changes in their migration paths may be a sign of broader changes in the environment, climate, and the availability of food and water.

In this regard, Al-Badawi emphasized the need to correct misconceptions and security rumors associated with tracking devices, and to end the beliefs that link these technologies to espionage or listening devices, ensuring that birds are not killed or the devices they carry are not destroyed when found or hunted.

He also noted that protecting birds begins with protecting the habitats that receive them, providing safety for them at key stations such as the acacia forest, the Red Sea reserves, the reservoirs on the Nile River, and agricultural sites and Nile forests.

He concluded by stressing the importance of Sudan's commitment to international agreements concerned with the protection of migratory birds and biodiversity, including the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

As for a citizen who finds a bird carrying a ring or tracking device, the first step is not to tamper with it. Specialists advise photographing the rings and devices and recording their numbers and codes, along with noting the location and date of finding the bird.

If the bird is injured, one should contact the nearest veterinarian, try to stop its movement, calm it down, and avoid disturbing or moving it, especially in cases of fractures.

In cases of heat stress, water and a comfortable shelter can be provided for the bird, without exhausting or frightening it.

One can also contact wildlife protection forces, wildlife research centers, universities with specialized departments in wildlife, or ornithologists and specialized researchers.

As for a healthy bird that only needs rest, it is preferable to release it after it regains its ability to continue its journey, rather than keeping it captive without reason.