Rare cattle egret spotted in Nineveh Plain after heavy rains

MOSUL — The Nineveh Plain has recorded its first sighting of the cattle egret, a bird typically found in Iraq’s southern marshes, following heavy rainfall that exceeded 500 millimeters in areas around Mosul.

The unusual appearance comes after the formation of wetlands that created a suitable habitat for migratory birds, prompting environmental groups to urge residents to treat the birds with care, noting their presence is temporary and linked to the current rainy season.

Bassam al-Obaidi, an environmental specialist and member of the Tigris River Protectors Association, told 964media, “The appearance of the cattle egret in the Nineveh Plain indicates a restoration of environmental balance, and is directly linked to the formation of water wetlands after recent rains that exceeded 500 millimeters this year, following years of rainfall below natural levels, which provided a rich environment of insects and small organisms suitable for the bird’s diet.”

He added, “This situation is considered a positive indicator of improvement in the local ecosystem, and is often temporary rather than permanent settlement, and calls for attention and monitoring of human behavior toward migratory birds, as well as government action to protect and restore biodiversity.”

Al-Obaidi said the bird is usually found in the southern marshes and water-rich agricultural areas, noting that “this is the first time the cattle egret has been recorded in the Nineveh Plain, though it may have appeared during previous rainy seasons.”