Fact Sheet: Migratory and resident wild birds in Palestine are at risk of extinction

Palestine Society for Environment and Sustainable Development issued a fact sheet about migratory and resident wild birds in Palestine that are in danger of extinction. This was completed on the occasion of the International Day for Migratory Birds, which comes under the title “Dim the Lights for Birds at Night”.

The Society said that the fact sheet comes from the Mahmiyat project, with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, to shed light on a phenomenon that poses a serious threat to birds and wildlife in all its forms.

It pointed out that back in the 1880s, Palestine had 40 pairs of golden eagles and 20 pairs of Bonelli eagles, but today there are only less than 10 pairs left. This is due to their exposure to a range of damage to their nesting environments. Damage includes stealing bird nests for the purpose of trading, being disturbed by hikers in nesting areas, and theft of chicks from the nest by other birds, such as the eagle owl.

It added that the most important cause is poisoning, which kills dozens of birds annually in our areas. This is a result of farmers poisoning foxes who are trying to steal their goats. The foxes eat the poison and die. Then the eagles eat the fox corpses, consume the residual poison and they die as well.

In addition, the fact sheet explained improper discarding of sick or dead animals by livestock breeders, which pose a threat to birds. Some animals are infected with diseases and are given medicines during their treatment, but they do not recover. Then after their death, they negatively affect nature and birds because the birds eat (or are exposed to) the carcasses. This is what happened in October 2021, in the Jerusalem wilderness, which led to the death of 11 eagles. It was an impactful loss.

In the fact sheet, the Palestine Society for Environment and Sustainable Development  expressed its fear of the extinction of wild birds if the necessary measures were not taken. They would join the many wild birds that were common in Palestine, such as the griffon vulture, which normally uses dams of the Dead Sea as a nesting place. But this year it did not succeed in establishing any nests in the area. This was an area that the griffon vulture had used in past years. A study was carried out on three valleys where nesting was recorded over the previous years. The lack of nesting was due to the poisoning and death of 11 eagles. This was an environmental disaster for this endangered species, as it was poisoned before the mating season.

Then the study focused on the Bonelli eagle, which nests on the southern side of the Jerusalem wilderness. The Mahmiyat project succeeded in surveilling and documenting its nest from a distance, as well as the nests of the golden eagle. The eagle succeeded in building two nests in the south. In one, the fledglings were stolen, while the other is being watched closely by the crews of Palestine Society for Environment and Sustainable Development. Also documented was a migratory Egyptian vulture who succeeded in building a nest inside a hole on a high mountain dam. The male was monitored and seen using the nest.

Then the study focused on the Peregrine falcon, which is one of the rare migratory and resident birds. They recorded the female being in the nest that she has been using for several years, and the male guards the area all year round. They also reported on the desert owl, which is also considered one of the rare and endangered birds. The desert owl uses the valleys of the Jerusalem wilderness as a place for nesting. Its numbers are increasing significantly and it has become easy to see these owls in various valleys.

The study noted that the lesser kestrel reserves more than 15 pairs for nesting in one area, indicating that despite the success of nesting for some birds, the chance of survival for the young is difficult. This is due to the many threats facing them, and greater danger that awaits them, such as poisoning. Any such occurrence is catastrophic.

The fact sheet called for taking necessary measures to protect migratory birds and to educate the local community not to attempt contact with them.The birds’ presence has an important ecological impact. Lastly, the slogan of the International Day for Migratory Birds, “Dim the Lights for Birds at Night”, constitutes a national opportunity to protect birds from light pollution, which is increasing worldwide by at least 2% annually.