As the sun starts to sink over Beirut on a late spring afternoon, I gaze at the sky from my balcony and marvel at a flock of birds performing a graceful, synchronized dance. The coordinated movements of birds drawing patterns across the colorful horizon is a satisfying cinematic display. You can’t help but develop a profound admiration for this majestic creature.
When contemplating birds, it may come as a surprise that they are descendants of large carnivorous reptiles: fossil records established that birds’ lineage can be traced back to dinosaurs1. Despite reigning over Earth for millions of years, dinosaurs went extinct – but birds, their descendants, survived. Through a long string of evolutionary changes, the feathered animal mastered the power of flying and managed to adapt to unpredictable environmental conditions, exhibiting remarkable perseverance and resilience.
Birds Under Threat
While the world celebrates Migratory Bird Day twice a year, each spring and autumn – when birds embark on an extensive journey in search of better climates and food – the birds are rarely ever left in peace. The seasonal movement of birds has proven to be costly for their survival, especially when flying through the Lebanese atmosphere, where they are mass slaughtered for ‘sport’ in significant numbers.
Lebanon, a biodiversity “hotspot”4 due to its geographic location, mountainous topography and diverse climatic conditions, is home to 404 different bird species and holds 15 internationally declared Important Bird Areas5. It is also characterized as a “bottleneck”6 site, given that it is situated at the strategic intersection of two main migratory flyways, used by millions of birds each spring and autumn. Although Lebanon upholds specific hunting laws and has signed international conventions to protect migratory birds, over 2,600,000 birds7 are killed in the country each year. These numbers amount to a staggering loss that holds grim consequences for nature, along with humans’ wellbeing.
Birds play numerous roles in the environment: they control insect-pest populations, pollinate, disperse seeds (by either ingesting and passing them or regurgitating them), provide essential nutrients to plants (helping them thrive and ensuring their diversity), and some types of birds even serve as scavengers8.
The killing of these unique species is ravaging the life of different ecosystems and posing a threat to human health. On another level, the loss of these awe-inspiring creatures also impoverishes the human imagination, which has continued to draw endless inspiration from these winged wonders.
Birds as Inspiration
Birds have ignited the human imagination, giving rise to countless legends, myths and folklore10. They play various symbolic roles in diverse cultures, where insightful stories carrying spiritual meanings are often associated with them. The mystical phoenix, for instance, has traveled across various civilizations, but has been particularly associated with immortality, resurrection, and renewal in the Levant.
A more recent example that bears political symbolism is Palestine’s national bird. The small Palestine sunbird, with its shimmering feathers and downturned beak, is an emblem of Palestinian identity and resistance. Despite Israeli attempts to change its name and erase its connection with Palestine11, the passerine bird defies borders and restrictions with its flight, carrying with it the quest for liberation. It can soar high above racist occupation walls while singing the prettiest of songs.
This graceful creature has also always been a subject of fascination for poets, writers, and philosophers. They have, for centuries, served as a source of creativity, as they naturally rouse metaphors and allegories. Gibran Khalil Gibran extolls the freedom symbolized by birds when he says:
"The bird has an honor that man does not have. Man lives in the traps of his abdicated laws and traditions but the birds live according to the natural law of God who causes the earth to turn around the sun12."
Birds are revered and paid tribute to in Lebanese (and generally Arabic) music as well, including songs such as “Ya Tayr” and “Ya Hajal Sannine” by Fayrouz, “Asfour Tall Men El Shebbak” by Oumaima El Khalil, “Ya Tayr El Tayer Ellou” by Sabah, to name just a few.
Bird melodies also served as an inspiration for some of the greatest classical masterpieces. Music composed by Vivaldi13, Beethoven14 and others are symphonic replications of birdsongs.
While bird music evokes a soothing feeling of solace in humans, their singing is oftentimes directly related to their survival: attracting mates, defending their territory, or signaling a threat15. Bird sounds may succeed in warding off animal predators, but sadly, when it comes to fending off human threats – not as much.
Play an Active Role
Awareness campaigns that inform people about bird migration, ecology and habitats are a good place to start. Perhaps if people understood birds’ ecological functions better, as well as how different bird species maintain the delicate balance of nature, they might become more reluctant to engage in harmful practices against them.
Encouraging nature-based activities, where binoculars or cameras replace guns could also be an effective tool to raise awareness. Birdwatching, or ‘birding’, is an educational and recreational activity that can help boost conservation efforts. In fact, many of Lebanon’s current professional bird photographers and watchers were once hunters.
Birdwatching can be self-taught, and it is facilitated through several available online tools: For identification, the Bird Identification Manual by Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon can serve as a great guide for beginners. Lebanon’s bird checklist by the Association for Bird Conservation is another helpful reference. Pages like Birds of Lebanon on Facebook gives you the opportunity to document your observations.
If you happen to witness criminal hunting activities, please consider reporting it to the Conservation of Environmentally Sensitive National Areas (CESNA), reaching out to animal activists speaking up on social media platforms, or giving the 112 hotline a try. The Internal Security Forces may also take action. Additionally, if you find an injured bird, directly notify wildlife rescue organizations such as Lebanese Wildlife, the MESHC Anti-Poaching Unit, and the Lebanese Association for Migratory Birds.
Lastly, the impact of our daily actions should never be underestimated. Reducing single-use plastics, which are often mistaken for prey, purchasing items that do not contribute to the destruction of forests which birds and other wildlife depend on to survive, planting native species and avoiding the use of pesticides in your garden, and adding water and a nesting area to your balcony, can all help with bird conservation.
A Finishing Thought
