A scene of chaffinch bird in Garmiyan area, Kurdistan Region. Photo: Taymour Hassan Ghafur
Marking seasonal patterns
Migratory birds arrive in Kurdistan
ERBIL — A wildlife expert has reported the arrival of several species of migratory birds to the Kurdistan Region, marking a natural pattern where these birds move toward colder areas they prefer.
Among the species arriving are the Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and the European greenfinch, small birds widely distributed across Europe and Western Asia. These species, which include both male and female genders, are known for their seasonal migrations, often finding refuge in the natural landscapes of the Kurdistan Region.
Taymour Hassan Ghafur, a zoology expert, informed 964media about the timely arrival of some migratory bird species to Kurdistan, including the chaffinch.
“These migratory species have now reached the borders of Kurdistan’s mountainous regions, including areas like Halabja, Garmiyan, and some parts of Western Kurdistan [Syria], before they move on to colder areas,” Ghafur stated.
He further highlighted that the journey of these migratory birds from Kurdistan toward colder regions includes destinations like Siberia, Russia, and Armenia.
Ghafur also noted that from the end of March to June, these birds build nests within bushes and lay their eggs, primarily feeding on a wide variety of seeds, including those from mulberries, hawthorns, and crops.
He expressed concern over the declining numbers of these migratory birds in Kurdistan due to factors such as hunting, increased light pollution along their migration routes, the proliferation of communication towers emitting disruptive waves, and environmental changes. This decline also affects other species, including geese, ducks, and various predatory birds.