Poaching in Lebanon - bird species affected
In Lebanon, almost all bird species that breed or migrate here are affected by hunting and poaching. More than 250 of the 400 bird species ever observed in Lebanon have been recorded as shot or trapped. This makes Lebanon an exception, as in most countries the hunting traditions that have developed are usually limited to a relatively manageable selection of species. In Lebanon, literally everything that flies is shot or caught.
Nevertheless, some species are significantly more affected than others. In an evaluation of trophy pictures in 2014, we analysed 598 pictures posted by hunters on social media with a total of 13,164 shot birds. 11,213 of the animals could be reliably identified. These comprised 143 species, including numerous endangered European species for which considerable conservation efforts are being made, such as Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Lesser Spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina), Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus), Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Crane (Grus grus), Corncrake (Crex crex), European Roller (Coracias garrulus), Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), Ortolan (Emberiza hortulana) and Oriole (Oriolus oriolus).
The three most frequently shot species depicted in the analysed photos are Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos), Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and Skylark (Alauda arvensis), which account for about 59% of the birds depicted in the photos with a total number of 6,653 individuals. During our bird protection camps, we also found that bee-eaters (Merops apiaster), barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) and house martins (Delichon urbica) are illegally shot in large numbers.
When trapping birds with nets and limesticks, poachers mainly target warblers - especially blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla), which are attracted with electronic decoys. But other warblers species, such as garden warblers (Sylvia borin) and lesser whitethroat (Curruca curruca) are also targeted, as are various reed warblers (Acrocephalus), house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and spanish sparrows (Passer hispaniolensis).
You can find our evaluation from 2014 here.
Wilderei im Libanon - betroffene Vogelarten
Honey Buzzard
Hobby
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Ortolan Bunting
Cuckoo
Night Heron