If you’re looking to go birding in Iraq, the Check list for birds of Iraq is for you. It’s comprehensive and includes waterfowl and wading birds, a suite of song birds, raptors, and game birds. In addition, it includes the Birdlist system, which codes species by abundance and seasonality. You can learn about the best times of year to see each species, and the specific habitat they prefer.
Breeding season
The breeding season of many species of Iraqi birds is similar to that of the rest of their range. The general season for breeding in central Iraq is from March to June, one to two months earlier than in Europe. This early breeding date is correlated with shorter spring growth in Iraq, so seed-eaters will typically nest later and for a longer period of time. Other species of birds, such as African darters, will start breeding a week or two later than their European counterparts.
The breeding season of the Basra Reed Warbler was confirmed during every summer of 2005 to 2008. It is a globally endangered species whose habitat has been destroyed by irrigation and drainage in the past 25 years. Several species are still breeding in Iraq, including the Basra Reed Warbler and the Sacred Ibis. The Basra Reed Warbler is another species found in Iraq that breeds in marshy areas.
The Black-tailed Godwit is another wetland-dependent species. It was recently assigned near-threatened status by BirdLife International. In southern Iraq, it was recorded at 20 monitoring sites, with a high count of 2010 individuals during the winter of 2008. In the same southern marshes, the Asian Imperial Eagle was also recorded at six sites. The species is considered to be globally near-threatened.
Many rare and beautiful species of Iraqi birds have been decimated by the war in Baghdad. The destruction of these environments has also led to the loss of many old customs. Iraqi bird breeders used to trade and exchange their rare birds as gifts. In the past, there was a thriving bird breeding industry in the country. These rare birds are valued for their beauty and rarity. It is also common for these species to nest in the spring, so the breeding season for these birds is important.
Habitat
The general breeding season of birds in central Iraq is from March to June. This is later than in Europe, but is not significantly different from that of European counterparts. Many seed-eaters nest later and for longer periods of time, while specialized Pterocles breed more commonly during the summer. This may be due to the variable water conditions in the central part of the country. Consequently, breeding may be delayed by one to two weeks, especially in northern Iraq.
In the past few decades, severe draining programs in Lower Mesopotamia have transformed vast areas of marshes into deserts. In 2005, new field surveys of birds in marshes in southern Iraq were launched with the help of national and international partners. These surveys gathered and collated new data and identified bird species in KBAs throughout Iraq. While some species were previously unknown, this research will help to better understand the status of these important habitats.
The report also includes data from previous surveys. In June 2008, Nature Iraq published a Field Guide to the Birds of Iraq in partnership with BirdLife International, a global coalition for bird conservation. The organization also produced a children’s book on Iraq’s birds. This program is expected to be implemented in schoolyards during 2010 as a way to promote bird conservation in the region. This article is a summary of the findings of the project.
While this article highlights some of the key environmental issues facing Iraq, it also examines the importance of protecting the habitats of these species. Land use and biodiversity are key to maintaining the country’s ecosystems. Immediate remedies must be instituted to prevent further degradation of the ecosystems in Iraq. Scientific research on mammals in Iraq has not been done in 30 years. To conduct such research, special training and equipment must be obtained, and local conservation status is uncertain. Despite this lack of knowledge, native mammals of Iraq do not pose any major threat to humans and have low disease incidences.
Conservation efforts
The Key Biodiversity Project’s (KBP) bird surveys in southern Iraq have documented the existence of 159 species of birds. Eight of these species are globally threatened and 34 are of conservation concern. However, many species are still well represented, and their populations are still thriving, according to the KBA survey. Some examples of globally threatened species include the Basra Reed Warbler, the African Darter, and the Sacred Ibis.
In 2004, a U.S. soldier who served in Iraq logged 122 species of birds. Trouern-Trend, from Connecticut, was part of the 118th Medical Support Battalion when he took his work to Iraq. He then went on to start his own blog, Birding Babylon. He mapped his observations and shared them with others on the web. The birding experience he gained is now widely known, and his work is helping protect the natural heritage of Iraq.
Throughout Iraq’s landscape, rare species have been lost to human activity. The country’s Mosul zoo was looted during the time of IS control, and the new bird hunting laws could have helped security officials catch smugglers. The country needs to implement stricter laws against smuggling and prepare programs for raising environmental awareness. And while conservation efforts in Iraq are progressing, the country is far from being able to protect its birds.
In addition to the Iraqi Kurdistan region, Nature Iraq is focusing on the conservation of mammals in the country. The IUCN-supported Darwin Project has helped Iraq protect the country’s biodiversity. It has worked with local partners to develop an education program in schools and has produced a biodiversity-based land-use manual and an app to identify wildlife. It has also coordinated an online course in biodiversity for university students. These efforts have served as a model for conservation in Iraq.
Conservation efforts in Peramagroon Mountain
The Peramagroon Mountain in Iraq contains one sixth of the country’s flora, making it a prime location for bird conservation. As a result of the work of Nature Iraq and its partners, the number of species known from Peramagroon has more than doubled. This research has improved our understanding of the country’s unique flora. We’ve also developed new techniques for species identification. We’ve engaged children and communities in the study of local wildlife, and we’ll look at those projects in turn.
The Peramagroon Mountain is home to numerous bird species, including Egyptian vultures, the Kurdistan wheatear flycatcher, and spur-thighed tortoises. A recent study of the plant life found that over 650 species of plants occur on the mountain. This is nearly double the number previously known for the area, and it includes several new species. In addition to birds, there are also many plants, including a swathe of trees and bushes that support the area’s ecosystem.
In recent years, limited surveys of the region’s bird life revealed a range of habitats and species. The study’s objectives were to identify key biodiversity areas and determine the trigger bird species for these habitats. The IUCN has categorized these habitats based on IUCN (2001) categories. Among these were birds of global and regional importance. The Iraq KBA is one of the few such areas.
The CLP team has been conducting surveys at both study sites, including summer and winter. After the survey, the team reported the findings to international conservation organizations and local communities. In addition to these surveying efforts, the team has conducted meetings with local residents and distributed conservation education materials in study areas. These activities have helped establish a basis for future conservation efforts in the region. Our work is continuing to provide valuable data and information on the local wildlife.
Rare bird species
The Check list of bird species in Iraq includes an extensive suite of song birds, raptors, and game birds. These birds are found across various ecosystems and are rare in Iraq. Birds found in Iraq are coded according to abundance and seasonality. While it is unlikely to see a particular species in Iraq, some birds are found only in Iraq. Read on to find out more about the rare bird species of Iraq and their importance to its ecosystem.
During the winter and summer of 2008, the College of Sciences for Women at the University of Baghdad supported the project. Additional support came from the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Nature Iraq, and the Iraqi Green Climate Organization. The study also included the survey of 34 sites in the North Iraq governorates of Sulaimani, Erbil, and Dohuk. The survey recorded 185 species of birds. Of these, one was globally endangered, three were near threatened, and 32 species were deemed of conservation concern in Iraq.
The war in Iraq has destroyed many old customs in Baghdad and driven the population of these beautiful birds away. The country was a popular breeding ground for many bird species, including rare and endangered species. Rare birds were valued and traded amongst Iraqi citizens. They were also exchanged as gifts. Today, only a handful of these species survive in Iraq. So what can we do to save them? Read on to learn more about the rare bird species of Iraq.
John is passionate about discovering the beautiful birds of the globe. He is researching & sharing the best birds of all countries that he can find to share his passion & hobby with the world.
