The natural beauty of Aswan on display in Cairo. Aswan made a powerful presence at the Bird Photography Exhibition in Cairo. Not only because a very large number of the exhibited photos were taken in Aswan or because more Aswan-based photographers have participated in this year, but because the exhibition also featured a dedicated section for the “Pearl of the South.”
The Aswan section, suppored by the Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE), focused on bird photos that showcased Aswan’s tourist landmarks. Ismael Khalifa, the founder of Aswan Birdwatching, has participated in this special section with three photos.
The first photo: Gray heron
The first photo is of a grey heron on the Nile, with traditional sailing boats in the background. The photo, taken during a birdwatching trip, is predominantly grey—the same color as the heron—almost sending the message that “Aswan is always in the mood for birds,” or that the birds “are Aswani in spirit.” This image also aligns with the 2025 World Migratory Bird Day theme, which focuses on “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities”
The second photo: Spur-winged lapwing
The second photo is of the local bird Spur-winged lapwing, with beautiful, colorful houses in the background. Nubian village at Gharb Seheil is one of the famous tourist attractions in the city.
The third photo: Egyptian goose
The third photo shows a group of Egyptian geese with the famous Temple of Philae in the background. This is one of my most cherished photos because it captures a bird that bears the name of Egypt while at the same time being a native and authentic part of the Egyptian environment.
More amazing photos
Among the other notable images in the Aswan section is a photo of Amr Hady, a prominent naturalist from Aswan, showing a group of migratory Northern Pintail ducks along with a traditional sailing boats. There’s also a distinctive image by the talented artist Amr Tawfiq of an Egyptian goose against the backdrop of the towering wall of the Philae Temple.
Ministerial interest
Aswan’s prominent presence at the exhibition was preceded by notable interest from both the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Environment, demonstrated by a cordial visit from the Advisor to the Minister of Tourism for Strategic Administration Affairs and the Advisor to the Minister of Environment for Ecotourism.
The visit, which took place at Lake Nasser, aimed to assess the current situation and overcome obstacles to supporting and enhancing Aswan’s presence on the eco-tourism map. This is because Aswan possesses promising elements for eco-tourism, represented by its unique natural reserves, its magnificent Nile islands, its warm climate, and its distinctive cultural diversity.
Finally, one of the highlights of Aswan’s presence at the Opera House exhibition was that the winners of Top 10 photos competition received a valuable prize, which is a 3 days free trip to Aswan, depending on the fact that Aswan, with its beautiful and diverse birds, is a main source of inspiration and creativity for the lovers of bird photography.