By Faranak Bakhtiari

End of the line for Iran's bird-watching paradise?

TEHRAN – Miankaleh international wetland has recently witnessed the death of over 13,000 migratory birds. Although veterinary organization announced that the birds have been killed due to the “botulinum toxin”, some environmentalists believe that water pollution and other factors that have not yet been investigated have caused unprecedented bird mortality in the area.

Some 6,000 migratory birds die mysteriously in Miankaleh peninsula

TEHRAN – Some 6,000 bodies of lifeless migratory birds have been found so far around Miankaleh peninsula, located in the extreme south-eastern part of the Caspian Sea, IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

Migratory birds wing their way to southern coasts of Iran

TEHRAN – About 90 species of aquatic birds annually migrate to southern Hormozgan province, which is one of the important wintering grounds for migratory birds.

Birdwatching can propel tourism growth in Caspian Sea island

TEHRAN – Ashuradeh, Iran’s sole island in the Caspian Sea, and its surrounding wetlands constitute a rich ecological haven for many migratory birds. However, birdwatching has remained somehow an untapped potential for tourism growth in the coastal region.

Hour al-Azim wetland hosting flocks of migratory birds

TEHRAN – Hour al-Azim wetland is hosting flocks of migratory birds this year again after years of water scarcity and no bird migration.

Aq-Gol wetland hosts flocks of migratory birds

TEHRAN – Aq-Gol wetland in west-central province of Hamedan is filled with water due to heavy rainfall and now plays host to flocks of migratory birds once again.

First flock of white pelicans landed in Kani Barazan wetland

TEHRAN – The first group of white pelicans, amounting to 150, have flown to the Kani Barazan wetland, located in northwestern province of West Azarbaijan.

Migratory birds arrive in Gulf of Gorgan, Ashuradeh Island

TEHRAN – The Gulf of Gorgan, the largest Gulf in the Caspian Sea in northern Iran, is hosting flocks of migratory birds once again which have flown long distances to spend the cold season.

Migratory birds return to Shadegan wetland

TEHRAN – Shadegan wetland in southwestern province of Khuzestan has come back to life by heavy rainfall and is now hosting flocks of migratory birds, Mehr news agency reported on Wednesday.

Gavkhuni wetland comes back to life

Migratory birds have returned to Gavkhuni wetland once again as heavy rainfall has revived the long-dried wetland.

Last Siberian crane wings its way back to Iran

TEHRAN – The last remaining western Siberian crane, called ‘Omid’ (meaning Hope in Persian), has returned to Iran once again to spend the winter but one month earlier than the previous years, IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

Mighan wetland hosts migratory birds once again

TEHRAN – Mighan wetland in central province of Markazi has returned back to life due to above normal rainfall and is now home to flocks of migratory birds which come to spend the winter, Mehr reported on Tuesday.

Flocks of migratory birds came to winter in northern Iran

TEHRAN – The first group of migratory birds landed in northern Mazandaran province to spend the winter, director for the provincial department of environment (DOE) has said.

Rare Baillon's crake spotted in Gandoman wetland

TEHRAN – Rare bird species of Baillon's crake have been spotted for the first time in Gandoman wetland located in the southwestern province of Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, said Shahram Ahmadi, the provincial department of environment chief.

Locals build bird nests; flocks of storks fly to western Iran

TEHRAN – Locals started to build tens of nests for storks in the western city of Marivan, Kordestan province, which attracted many of the birds to stay during the warm season, IRNA reported.

‘Four bird species on the edge of extinction’

TEHRAN – An ornithology expert, Alireza Hashemi, has warned that four bird species are on the verge of extinction in Iran, driven by the destruction of natural habitats, hunting, and other destructive human actions.

Flamingos return to Gavkhuni wetland after 2 years

TEHRAN – Flamingos landed once again in recently replenished Gavkhuni wetland in central province of Isfahan, after 2 years, the provincial department of environment deputy director has said.

World Migratory Bird Day: habitat destruction posing threats to the species

TEHRAN — Unsustainable development leading to habitat destruction is one of the major threats to migratory birds, Masoud Hosseini, an official with Iran’s Department of Environment has said.

Namak Lake not to generate SDSs this year: official

TEHRAN – Namak Lake, located in the central Qom province, will not be a hotspot for sand and dust storms (SDSs) for a year due to the recent rainfall which moisturized the soil, Masoud Baqerzadeh Karimi, the director general of aquatic ecosystems at the Department of Environment has said.

2 rare bird species spotted in southern Iran

TEHRAN – Two rare species of rock bunting and masked booby have been spotted for the first time in Bandar Genaveh, southern Bushehr province, Mohammad Tolideh, chief of Bushehr department of environment has announced.

Northwestern Kani Barazan Wetland play host to 30,000 migratory birds

TEHRAN — Some 30,000 migratory birds have winged their ways to Kani Barazan Wetland, located in northwestern province of West Azarbaijan, Mahabad chief of department of environment has said.

Over 8,000 lesser white-fronted geese wintering in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – about 8,000 endangered population of lesser white-fronted geese were are wintering in West Azarbaijan province, northwestern part of the country, head of wildlife monitoring affairs at the provincial department of environment has said.

Migratory birds wintering in Iran increased by 26.5%

TERHAN – The total population of migratory birds took flight to spend the cold season in the country increased by 26.5 percent last winter compared to a year earlier, head of aquatic animals and wildlife affairs at the Department of Environment (DOE) has said.

Migratory birds return to Hour al-Azim wetland

TEHRAN – Hour al-Azim wetland has been suffering water scarcity in recent years, which posed a threat to bird migration, while recent autumnal rainfall led to migratory birds flying over the area again to stay in the cold season.

Rainfalls bring back life to Bamdej wetland, southwestern Iran

TEHRAN – Bamdej Wetland, located 40 kilometers northwest of Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, has been filled with water after autumn rainfalls, while suffering a significant drop in water level during summer, deputy director of Khuzestan province’s environment department general said.

Migratory birds winter in Karun River

Migratory birds have winged their ways to Karun River, southwestern province of Khuzestan, once again this year. 

Whooper swans come to northern Iran two weeks earlier

TEHRAN – Whooper swans, the last group of migratory birds spending winter in northern Iran, landed in Miankaleh wetland in eastern part of Mazandaran province two weeks earlier, deputy director for the provincial department of environment (DOE) has said.

Illegal bird hunting violations to be pursued vigorously: Mazandaran prosecutor

TEHRAN – While the lack of serious supervision over the past years has led to a huge number of illegal mist nets installed in the country’s valuable wildlife habitats, any act of illegal shooting, trapping or persecuting the birds will be harshly punished in accordance with the law, Mazandaran province’s prosecutor has said.

Hour al-Azim wetland wildfire threatens bird migration

TEHRAN — Should the wildfire in Hour al-Azim wetland continues throughout autumn it would become a threat to bird migration in the area, head of Khuzestan province’s department of environment has said.

Lake Urmia, habitat of some 35,000 flamingos

TEHRAN – Some 35,000 migratory flamingos are now living in Lake Urmia and the seasonally-flooded wetlands in the region, said an official with West Azarbaijan province’s department of environment.