A Review of The Current Status of Migratory Wild Birds in Iraq and Syria

. Iraq and Syria are among the countries that are frequented by wild birds in great numbers and species due to the abundance of water, green spaces, moderate climate in winter and the lack of predators. The two countries fall under the migration line of birds that stretches between East Asia and East Africa. The results of the survey, which were conducted nearly twenty years ago, indicated that there are at least 400 species of migratory birds coming to Iraq and Syria (The majority are from the Accipitres (Accipitridae) and passerines (Passeriformes)). In Iraq, the marshes (Al-Ahwar) are inhabited by species of birds that are rare in other parts of the world like the Iraq Babbler (Turdoides squamiceps) and the rocking reed of Basra (Acrocephalus griseldis). The rare endangered Namaqua Dove (Oena Capensis) was seen in the Syrian Badia. Recently, the status of the deputed birds has decreased in terms of numbers and species due to a set of reasons, the most important of which is the phenomenon of over-hunting, which has negatively affected the numbers of birds, especially birds that are threatened with extinction and included in the red list such as the Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca) and the Eurasian teal (Anas Crecca). The demographic fluctuation and war conditions have led to the reluctance of some species to come to Iraq and Syria and change the course of their migration to other places. The emergence of some non-traditional methods of hunting by bird hunters, such as the establishment of artificial waterbodies to attract waterfowl, led to an unprecedented decline in the numbers of these birds. The lack of legal oversight, lack of accountability, and the tendency of bird hunters to hunt in uncontrolled areas increased the great damage to wild birds in particular and to wildlife in general.


Introduction
Bird migration remains a mystery. This seasonal movement carried out by birds according to specific paths is most likely limited to two areas: the breeding and the wintering. Due to the ambiguity surrounding this behavior, huge studies have been conducted to define this phenomenon and its reasons (1). Under the pressure of an internal desire, millions of birds migrate twice a year, crossing huge distances through deserts, high mountain peaks and oceans with high accuracy, as these birds reach their target simultaneously that corresponds to the time they arrived in the previous year (2). Most migratory birds colonize the existing areas north of the equator due to the suitability of the climate and the large land area compared to what is found in the southern hemisphere of the globe that is mostly covered by oceans. Some birds have strong endurance capabilities. The Arctic tern fowl (Sterna paradisaea), for example, lives in northern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Europe, but it spends the winter months in southern Africa and the Antarctic region, travelling 2,000 kilometres back and forth every year (3). Every spring and summer, one-third of the world's migratory bird species set out on journeys of different distances and directions, as birds in the northern hemisphere take a path north-south in the fall and take the opposite direction in the spring, the birds migrate in northern Europe either through Turkey or the Strait of Gibraltar. In Iraq, several important factors affect the weather, including the astronomical position which determines the angle of incidence of the sun's rays and the length of the hours of the day. Iraq, in particular, located between latitude 29 ° and 37 ° north, this location has given it a temperature similar to tropical regions (4). Accordingly, Iraq has many important components that made it an environment with biodiversity of wild birds at the level of type and number. The water bodies in Iraq (the most important of which are the marshes (Al-Ahwar)), attract many migratory wild birds, whether as a resident or visiting birds during the winter and summer seasons. Syria enjoys four seasons throughout the year, the climate is divided into two regions: Mediterranean climate in the coastal region and vicinity and a dry climate in the rest of the regions towards the east and south (5). Syria wildlife is characterized by great biodiversity due to the climatic diversity and the location in the middle of the three continents of the ancient world: Asia, Africa and Europe, which made it a gateway for the migration of many species from north to south and vice versa. However, Syria differs from Iraq in terms of the biodiversity of wild birds because it lacks water bodies compared to Iraq and because most of the migratory wild birds frequent the desert areas like the Syrian Al-Badia. In this paper, we will derive a synthesis for the status of bird migration in Iraq and Syria, taking into account the biological diversity of the birds and the factors affecting the nature of migration.

Biodiversity Mosaic of Migratory Wild Birds in Iraq and Syria
It can be said that Iraq and Syria are relatively rich in biological diversity of wild birds, as the two countries' occurrence within more than one major migration line made this region a haven for many birds, especially small birds that avoid crossing water bodies (seas and oceans). Geographically, both countries are located in the warm latitude belt that stretches between the cold northern and hot southern regions (4; 5). As a comparison, Iraq is the country with the most migratory birds compared to Syria due to a large number of freshwater bodies, specifically the marshes area (Al-Ahwar), while Syria is characterized by vast areas of land, especially in the Syrian Badia, where this region is characterized by high-temperature rates and the biodiversity of wild plants, which are the main food for birds. In general, the importance of the geographical location concerning the biological diversity of wild birds in the two countries can be illustrated in Figure 1, where it is noted that the areas frequented by wild birds in both countries are close to each other, namely the Marshes region and the Syrian Badia. It should also be noted that there are very important areas of biodiversity of wild birds in the areas bordering the three countries: Iraq, Syria and Turkey. To investigate future species, numerous surveys and controls have been conducted over the last twenty years. Basically, all of the results obtained about the species and their behavioral characteristics were carried out through biological survey research and observations of the local population, especially those interested in hunting. In Iraq, according to the survey results of the Iraq Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Project from 2005 to 2008 (Basrah, Mis-san, Thi-Qar, Erbil, Sulaimanie and Dohuk), 159 species belonging to different families were documented, from the previous number, 110 species were considered as winter visitors, while the rest of the species were breeding (6). In Syria, 85 species were considered as winter visitors, 15species as summer visitors in an unlike statistic, 143 species of migratory birds stopped breeding in Syria. 71 species of migratory birds that do not breed. 83 species that live throughout the winter season. 15 species of birds that live throughout the summer. Also, 53 of these species of birds are considered endangered (Salloum, 2020). Several studies have been conducted on the biodiversity of wild birds in Syria. These studies included many species whose existence in Syria depends on several factors, including the date and time of the study, the survey methods and the current situation (existing or not present). However, Table 2 shows some of the types that have been documented through these studies (8; 9; 10 and 11). In general, many of the birds of Bilad AL-Sham (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine) are crossing that cross from Europe and Western Asia, avoiding the coldness and going to hot countries such as the Arabian Peninsula and sub-Saharan Africa in pursuit of sustenance and warmth, and remain for about five months and sometimes more, and when the warm season comes in Europe And western Asia, including Bilad AL-Sham -these birds return to it for reproduction. Countless thousands of migratory birds cross Bilad AL-Sham during the spring and autumn seasons, most notably storks, pike, ducks, geese, pelicans and some prey.     (Figure 4) .

Threatening Factors Affecting The Biodiversity of Immigrant Birds
Currently, it can be confirmed that a decrease has occurred in the level of species and numbers of wild birds in both countries. In the wild, birds face many threats to their survival. Many species are on the decline. Below is a summary of a number of these threats.

Climate Changes
Global warming and temperatures rise affect negatively migration cycle (12 and 13). After reaching the destinations, the birds rely on certain foods to live through the season. Breeding may succeed in some species, specifically the insect-eating songbirds. The reason could be the mismatch between the peak availability of food and the hatching of chicks. Also, climate change leads to changes in habitats, which causes re-distribution. Accordingly, some species are threatened by the nearly complete loss of their habitats (14).

Diseases
Like other birds, wild birds are affected by a range of diseases that limit their number and behavior in migration areas. In references, a group of infectious diseases that plague migratory birds are documented. Avian cholera can cause bird deaths in 12 hours, albeit 24-48 hour is typical. Salmonellosis which is resulting from a group of species of the genus Salmonella (i.e. Salmonella Pullorum and Salmonella Gallinarum) invades many bird species and loses their ability to move due to the severe toxic effect of bacteria. Among the bacterial diseases that affect migratory birds, digestive disease and wounds have also been documented like Avian botulism, Avian Tuberculosis, Avian chlamydiosis and Tularemia wild birds are severely affected by viral diseases, as they are either transmitters or are susceptible to degradation and death. Among the most dangerous viral diseases can be noted Newcastle disease virus, Avian pneumovirus, Egg drop syndrome virus and Duck plague virus (15).

Demographic Changes
This factor is more dangerous than the two mentioned above because the different circumstances that the two countries went through led to a severe demographic change. The increasing process of establishing the buildings in villages and countryside has negatively affected the migration of birds, which in turn changed migration paths and went to different places of the world, which reduced the number and types of birds in the two countries.

Unfair Hunting Methods (Overhunting)
This factor is one of the most dangerous factors that threaten migratory birds at all. This phenomenon cannot be controlled through the laws governing bird hunting. Despite the relentless pursuit of eliminating this phenomenon, all efforts cannot be crowned with 100% success, but this phenomenon can be minimized as much as possible. From time to time, this phenomenon creates new methods of hunting wild birds. These methods are characterized by hunting the largest number of birds possible in ways that are quite oppressive. In this scenario, the fowlers resort to areas far from government control and practice the hobby. Perhaps the most targeted wild birds within this method of overhunting are the ducks and geese. Perhaps the most prominent method used in this type of hunting is the use of large trawls and the use of weapons that have a great impact on birds. Recently, a method with a stronger impact in hunting has emerged, which is the establishment of artificial water bodies to lure wild birds to come to and hunt in very large quantities. This technique is applied to waterfowl. Illegal hunting causes great harm to the wildlife of birds, as it leads to a significant reduction in the number of birds, as it forces the birds to change their migratory paths to other places, and in the end, the biodiversity in the region will be affected in terms of type and quantity.

Conclusion
The biodiversity of migratory wild birds in both Iraq and Syria has been affected by several factors that ultimately led to the classification of some species within the contexts of globally threatened with extinction and conservation concern. On the other hand, the different conditions in the last twenty years led to a decrease in the numbers and types of wild birds coming to the two countries despite all the laws governing that concerning hunting and preserving bird biodiversity.