In the fertile lands of Khiyara, a village nestled in Lebanon’s West Bekaa Valley, a tragic yet telling scene unfolded one spring morning. A female Western Marsh Harrier—a bird of prey known for her broad wings and sweeping, low-altitude flight over wetlands—was found grounded, her left wing shattered by pellets from illegal hunting. She was once a symbol of freedom, gliding across continents, from the marshes of Eastern Europe to the wintering grounds of Africa. But her journey was violently interrupted by the long-standing and unlawful practice of bird poaching in Lebanon.
A Race Against Time
Chadi Saad, a field conservationist and raptor monitoring specialist at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), received the injured bird after a local farmer reported the incident. Upon assessing the severity of her injuries, he quickly transported her to SPNL’s newly established Migratory Bird Rescue Center at the Mount Lebanon Hima Center in Kayfoun.
“The wing was severely fractured, beyond what we could fix for a future release,” said Saad. “But we had to act. Even if she can’t fly again, she deserves care, dignity, and a second chance.”
At the rescue center—equipped with rehabilitation cages, veterinary care units, and round-the-clock monitoring—the harrier was stabilized. Over the following days, she received antibiotics, pain management, and supportive care. While her body began to heal, it became increasingly clear that she would never return to the skies.
A Victim of a Larger Crisis
The Western Marsh Harrier is not just any bird—it is a species of conservation concern across its migratory range. Though not currently globally threatened, it is listed under Annex II of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats and is protected under several national and international agreements. Lebanon, located along the Eastern Mediterranean Flyway, is a critical corridor for over 400 species of migratory birds, making incidents like this especially damaging.
According to BirdLife International and SPNL, Lebanon has become a hotspot for illegal bird killing. Studies estimate that over 2.6 million birds are illegally hunted each year in the country alone, despite laws prohibiting the practice. These include raptors like the Marsh Harrier, storks, pelicans, and songbirds—often shot for sport or taxidermy, sometimes even flaunted on social media platforms.
A Life of Purpose Beyond the Skies
While the rescued harrier’s chances of release are minimal, her story doesn’t end here. SPNL plans to designate her as an ambassador bird—a living testament to the resilience of nature and a symbol in their campaign against illegal hunting. Through SPNL’s “School with No Walls” program, she will help educate children, farmers, and hunters about Lebanon’s avian biodiversity and the critical role birds play in ecosystem health.
“Each bird we rescue is a message,” explains Assad Serhal, Director General of SPNL and Regional Chair of BirdLife International. “It tells us about what’s broken in our relationship with nature—and what we must fix together.”
SPNL is now rallying support to expand the capabilities of its Migratory Bird Rescue Center. With funding from international partners and local donors, they aim to enhance surgical care, develop long-term rehabilitation enclosures, and create an educational trail to host visitors, researchers, and schools. Their ultimate goal: to not just treat the wounded, but prevent the next injury before it happens.
A Call for Protection, Not Poaching
As Lebanon grapples with multiple crises—economic, political, environmental—the plight of migratory birds might seem like a distant concern. But the loss of biodiversity is a warning sign, not just for wildlife, but for the health and resilience of entire ecosystems.
The female Western Marsh Harrier now rests in a quiet aviary in Kayfoun. She cannot fly, but her presence speaks volumes. Her golden eyes still scan the horizon, perhaps out of instinct, perhaps in hope.
She is no longer just a bird of prey. She is a symbol of survival, and a call to action.
To support SPNL’s Migratory Bird Rescue Center and its efforts to protect birds along the Eastern Flyway, visit:
https://www.spnl.org/campaigns/equipping-our-migratory-bird-rescue-center
