'Even birds deserve' respite
Chamchamal launches ‘The Bird House’ project to shelter birds during extreme weather
CHAMCHAMAL — In an effort to provide refuge for birds during harsh weather conditions, the Chamchamal district in Sulaymaniyah has initiated “The Bird House” project. This initiative, titled “Even Birds Deserve Suitable Places,” is a collaborative effort between the Chamchamal Municipality and the Ayinda Organization for Environmental Protection.
“We have been planning this project for several years, considering the district’s vast area and large population,” said Marouf Majid, head of the Ayinda Organization for Environmental Protection. “Like in many other governorates, we want to create spaces dedicated to birds.”
The project will be rolled out in two phases. The initial phase involves the construction of a large birdhouse in front of the presidency building at Chamchamal University. The subsequent phase aims to install smaller birdhouses in trees throughout the district. Majid pointed out that these locations are ideal for supporting the bird population, which has been affected by urban architecture lacking the nooks and crannies that birds, like sparrows, traditionally use for nesting.
“If the project proves successful, we plan to build more birdhouses in public parks within the city,” Majid added. This initiative not only aims to provide shelters for birds but also encourages their continued presence in urban areas.
Historically, in the Pshdar area east of Sulaymaniyah, sparrows were a common sight, their chirping and fluttering a staple of daily life. They nested in the eaves and hollows of mud-brick houses, and residents often provided them with crumbs and grains during severe weather, helping supplement their diet.
Hemn Jafaar, head of the Gardens Department at Chamchamal Municipality, emphasized the aesthetic and ecological importance of integrating birdhouses into the city’s gardens. “It is important that birdhouses are present in the gardens because they enhance the natural beauty of the area,” he told 964 media.
Jafaar also called on residents to help protect and support the initiative, emphasizing that it benefits the entire community. “It is important that birdhouses are present in the gardens because they enhance the natural beauty of the area,” Jafaar explained.
Previously, the Ayinda Organization for Environmental Protection advocated for the creation of protected areas to safeguard mountain wildlife and birds, highlighting poaching as a major threat to their existence. Marouf Majid, head of the Ayinda Organization, raised concerns about the future of local wildlife on World Wildlife Day. “The illicit trade in mountain wildlife and birds within Kurdistan is widespread, leading to their decline both in the past and potentially in the future,” he told 964media.
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