Night hunting for migratory birds

Many birds migrate at night, partly because there are hardly any predators lying in wait for them then. However, in Lebanon this is not true, because many poachers, especially in the north of the country, shoot throughout the night with loud electronic decoys and huge spotlights to blast any passing birds for food and/or fun. Especially during the weekends, a single shooter can kill hundreds of migratory birds during a single night. Target species for shooters during the early migration phase in September are mainly nightjars, corncrake and quail, although only the latter can be legally hunted. Later in October, woodcock and thrushes are the primary target species. These species are targeted with the electronic decoys to be killed and eaten or traded on the black market for profit. However, many birds are simply left behind by the poachers. Usually construction spotlights or elaborately mounted spotlights on all-terrain vehicles are used, which shine vertically into the night sky. Attracted by the songs, the migratory birds fly through the cone of light, where fire is opened on them.