RIYADH — The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority announced a significant environmental achievement during the first half of 2026, recording 34 new bird species added for the first time to the reserve's biodiversity list. This raises the total number of recorded bird species to 225—a 15 percent increase in the reserve's documented avian diversity. The authority explained that this achievement stems from continuous improvement in field monitoring efficiency and comprehensive geographic coverage within the reserve's boundaries, enhancing the accuracy of biodiversity documentation. Abdulaziz Al-Furaih, spokesperson of the authority, said that the new findings reflect the accelerating development of the reserve's environmental monitoring programs. “Documenting this number of new species is an important scientific indicator of ecosystem health and habitat integrity within the reserve, reinforcing its standing as one of the region's leading environments supporting biodiversity and migratory bird routes, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative,” he said. Among the notable species recorded for the first time were the Rüppell's Vulture, the rare Red Phalarope, and the Pectoral Sandpiper, alongside migratory and rare birds including the Rose-colored Starling, Yellow Wagtail, Eurasian Skylark, and Song Thrush, reinforcing the reserve's scientific value as an international biodiversity observatory. The monitoring results also confirmed the documentation of species of high conservation value listed on the IUCN Red List, most notably the African Vulture, classified as critically endangered, alongside near-threatened species such as the Western Orphean Warbler and the White-winged Lark.