The first meeting of the Qatar Natural History Group was held recently. It was the occasion of my first after dark driving experience and I was able to experience the Ramadan evening passegiatta with cars, an amazing seemingly orchestrated pavane, with occasional two step dances or pas de deux breaking up the chorus line. This passegiatta in machine offers the Qataris an opportunity to parade their cars (quite often Land Rovers) on the way to the Mosque and to undertake social visits after they have broken the daily fast. By 9:00 pm police were stationed at major roundabouts to assure smooth transition of cars in this high speed, heavy metal dance and I was able to arrive home without bumps or scrapes.
The opening evening of the QNHG was packed – far more people showed up than ever before. My estimate was at least 200. Some attributed this to fact that the newsletter was produced in full color for the first time, a sample of which is presented with this posting. The new chair, Renee Hughes, gave a very nice, appropriately timed power point presentation touching on many of the interesting flora, fauna and inorganic points of interest (e.g., rock carvings), and introducing us to the possibilities of sights to be seen. I was able to purchase a copy of Discovering Qatar from the author, Frances Gillespie, who has lived in Qatar for over twenty years. From the foreward penned by Dr. Mahammed Saleh al Sada ( Managing Director, Rasgas Company Limited), “Qatar is a land of many secrets and ecological delights. From the air, first impressions of the peninsula are of a flat, barren, sandy desert surrounded by shallow seas. But the territory, both marine and terrestial, is of great scientific beauty and interest. Aspects of its abundant and fascinating topography, geology, fauna and vegetation all find a deserved place within these pages.”
The opening evening of the QNHG was packed – far more people showed up than ever before. My estimate was at least 200. Some attributed this to fact that the newsletter was produced in full color for the first time, a sample of which is presented with this posting. The new chair, Renee Hughes, gave a very nice, appropriately timed power point presentation touching on many of the interesting flora, fauna and inorganic points of interest (e.g., rock carvings), and introducing us to the possibilities of sights to be seen. I was able to purchase a copy of Discovering Qatar from the author, Frances Gillespie, who has lived in Qatar for over twenty years. From the foreward penned by Dr. Mahammed Saleh al Sada ( Managing Director, Rasgas Company Limited), “Qatar is a land of many secrets and ecological delights. From the air, first impressions of the peninsula are of a flat, barren, sandy desert surrounded by shallow seas. But the territory, both marine and terrestial, is of great scientific beauty and interest. Aspects of its abundant and fascinating topography, geology, fauna and vegetation all find a deserved place within these pages.”
The images at the top of the post are of the desert, a sea slug, whose "unlovely English name ... does does not do justice to these soft-bodied marine molluscs, which are among the most beautiful and brilliantly coloured denizens of the ocean," the Al Zubara Fort, North West Qatar, and an oryx. More on the Arabian Oryx: the once near-extinct Arabian Oryx now live and breed in protected herds on a farm located in Shahaniya. These social antelopes graze on the sparse vegetation offered by the arid Arabian peninsula and use their large horns as weapons of self-defense against enemies. This graceful white animal is believed to be the basis of the legend of the unicorn and is featured prominently on the tails of all Qatar Airways aircraft. [Seen from the side, the two horns appear as one.] Source : http://www.experienceqatar.com/
As you will note from the excerpts of the newsletter I have included, this group offers a full and interesting program. A long-time dear friend, to whom I had sent a full copy of the newsletter, wrote:
Omigod! Do you know what envy this nourishes in me?! What a spectacular group for you to join! I couldn't be more pleased for you, Susan. It's as though somebody back in 1978 said, OK, Lukesh will be here in about 20 years, give or take, let's get the absolutely right organization in place, buff off the rough edges, and have it ready for her. "Joy?" Oh, I think so.
From the Newsletter
Qatar Natural History Group (QNHG) was founded in November 1978 to 'bring together people with an interest in the natural history of Qatar and the Gulf', and the inaugural meeting was held in the grounds of the National Museum. Celebrations were held in the same place to mark the Group's 20th and 25th anniversaries, and next year sees the 30th anniversary of the Group. The QNHG has an international membership. Its annual subscription of QR 30 per adult (including any children under the age of 18) is the lowest of any of the natural history groups in the Arabian Gulf states. Its interests cover not only all aspects of natural history but also the culture, history and archaeology of Qatar, and talks are sometimes given on other places of interest to members. Meetings take place between October and June, usually on the first Wednesday of the month. They are held at 7.30 pm in the gymnasium of the Doha English Speaking School. An illustrated talk follows the announcements, and there is a small lending library of books available to members.
There is a field trip on the last Friday of each month to places of interest around Qatar. The trips are usually led by people who have some knowledge of a particular region or subject, e.g. amateur or professional geologists, botanists, archaeologists and so on. There are also camping trips and star-gazing expeditions from time to time. ... There are a number of 'sub-Groups' within the main organisation, depending on who volunteers to organise them! One of the most popular is the Ramblers Group which goes out and about on Friday mornings. Members can indicate on their membership form which of the activities they are interested in, and their names will then be added to the e-mail lists for those sub-groups. In recent years there have been various overseas trips per year during the long Eid breaks, organised with the help of local travel agents. These have included visits to Syria, Iran, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, India, Kenya and Turkey, and have proved highly popular.
Omigod! Do you know what envy this nourishes in me?! What a spectacular group for you to join! I couldn't be more pleased for you, Susan. It's as though somebody back in 1978 said, OK, Lukesh will be here in about 20 years, give or take, let's get the absolutely right organization in place, buff off the rough edges, and have it ready for her. "Joy?" Oh, I think so.
From the Newsletter
Qatar Natural History Group (QNHG) was founded in November 1978 to 'bring together people with an interest in the natural history of Qatar and the Gulf', and the inaugural meeting was held in the grounds of the National Museum. Celebrations were held in the same place to mark the Group's 20th and 25th anniversaries, and next year sees the 30th anniversary of the Group. The QNHG has an international membership. Its annual subscription of QR 30 per adult (including any children under the age of 18) is the lowest of any of the natural history groups in the Arabian Gulf states. Its interests cover not only all aspects of natural history but also the culture, history and archaeology of Qatar, and talks are sometimes given on other places of interest to members. Meetings take place between October and June, usually on the first Wednesday of the month. They are held at 7.30 pm in the gymnasium of the Doha English Speaking School. An illustrated talk follows the announcements, and there is a small lending library of books available to members.
There is a field trip on the last Friday of each month to places of interest around Qatar. The trips are usually led by people who have some knowledge of a particular region or subject, e.g. amateur or professional geologists, botanists, archaeologists and so on. There are also camping trips and star-gazing expeditions from time to time. ... There are a number of 'sub-Groups' within the main organisation, depending on who volunteers to organise them! One of the most popular is the Ramblers Group which goes out and about on Friday mornings. Members can indicate on their membership form which of the activities they are interested in, and their names will then be added to the e-mail lists for those sub-groups. In recent years there have been various overseas trips per year during the long Eid breaks, organised with the help of local travel agents. These have included visits to Syria, Iran, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, India, Kenya and Turkey, and have proved highly popular.
2007/2008 Tentative Field Trip List
Northern Forts. Al Zubara, Al Rekayat and other forts of NW Qatar. October 26th. _
Shark teeth. Fossil shark teeth of Eocene Midra Shale, SW Qatar. November 30th.
Starry Night. Barbecue, Christmas carols at Singing Dunes bonfire. December 21st.
Sheik Faisal's Museum - and walk in the gardens afterwards. December 28th.
Camel Track & Oryx farm in Al Sheehaniya. January 25th.
Camping out. Green fields of Western Qatar, campfire, watching stars. February 29th.
Jazirat Um Tais National Park. Tidal flats and barrier island. Geology and biology. March 28th.
Inland Sea. Through the dunes to the Inland Sea. Swim and have fun. April 25th.
Boat trip. Anchor at exotic beach, swim, snorkel, play and have fun. May 30th
I hope to be on all these trips, excepting the December Starry Night, when I will be in London visiting friends. I expect to take pictures and share.
