Monitoring Illegal killing and taking of birds at Qaraoun Black Spot (Anjar/Kfarzabad, Qaraoun, Khirbet Qanafar sub black spots) in Lebanon (Autumn 2020)

Monitoring Illegal killing and taking of birds at Qaraoun Black Spot (Anjar/Kfarzabad, Qaraoun, Khirbet Qanafar sub black spots) in Lebanon

Autumn 2020

By

Saad Ramadan and Homat Al Hima Teams

Under the supervision of Ghassan Ramadan-Jaradi

On Behalf of SPNL

Autumn 2020

INTRODUCTION

Qaraoun Black Spot (QBS) is formed from three sub-black spots: Anjar, Qaraoun and Khirbet Qanafar. The first one is located to the west and east of Anjar/Kfarzabad IBA where members from the local community practice hunting as long as it is not allowed to hunt within the IBA, the second sub-black spot encompasses an artificial lake (Qaraoun IBA) to the west and a public state land to the east of Qaraoun village, the third sub black spot is also located on the public state lands to the east and west of the Khirbet Qanafar Village. The QBS was declared Hima, a community-based management system; issued through official Hima decisions by the QBS municipalities. Through the Hima approach, SPNL aims to conserve the nature and biodiversity values of the site. This is taking place through promoting sustainable use of natural resources but also through an enforced Law of hunting within the IBA in order to protect the globally and locally threatened species for which the IBA has been declared and to reduce the number of illegally killed species and their individuals. Through the local community approach, SPNL realizes the importance of supporting the livelihoods of the Hima communities, in parallel with the conservation of nature, through the establishment of the Homat Al-Hima group and training them to monitor key biodiversity (including birds), promote eco-tourism and to collect and organize the gathered information in a database. At the same time, some hunters from the communities of QBS and their invitees continued to hunt or take birds but from outside the IBAs, precisely to the east and west of the latter. The following season of hunting started from mid-August to end of November 2002.

The monitored area

The monitoring of the Illegal Killing and taking of Birds is mapped below for Anjar/Kfarzabad, Qaraoun and Khirbet Qanafar:

      1. Anjar/Kfarzabad. This sub black spot is highlighted with brownish red color. Each zone has three types of stratified sampling. Square (S1 to S8), Linear Transect (T1 to T5) and Point count (P1 to P4).

During the autumn 2020 (September, October and November), all Point counts and Transects were monitored. Similarly, all the Squares were monitored except for S2 and S3. They were cancelled due to security reasons and proximity to tension areas on the middle slopes of Anti-Lebanon. During the autumn 2020, the same point counts and transects were monitored at close dates

T1: is a transect at the western slopes of Anti-Lebanon, made from an off road in the mountain reaching a Point Count (P1) at an altitude of 1178 meters asl.

T2: is a transect at Anjar crossing deciduous fruit trees and field crops,

T3: is a transect at Anjar looking over deciduous fruit trees, field crops and low density herbaceous vegetation,

T4: is a transect at Anjar looking over deciduous fruit trees, field crops and low density herbaceous vegetation and low density small forest.

T5: is a transect at Kfarzabad crossing field crops.

Squares (S1 to S4) are randomly selected from a grid on the western slopes of Anti-Lebanon with patchy shrubs and scrubs.

Squares (S5 to S7) are randomly selected in the plain of Anjar at an average of 888 meters sal. With deciduous fruit trees, field crops.

S8: is a square randomly selected in a field crop at Kfarzabad.

P1: is a point count on the western slopes of Anti-Lebanon at an altitude of 1178 meters asl.

P2: is a point count on a small hill in the plain of Anjar at an altitude of 900 meters asl.

P3: is a point count in Kfarzabad field crops, adjacent to Kfarzabad prominent outcrop at 872 meters asl.

P4: is a point count on top of the visitor center of Kfarzabad at an altitude of 892 meters asl.

      1. RESULTS of the sampled plots (30 minutes per Point count/transect/square)

 

Mountain Slope

Plain Anjar

Plain Kfarzabad

 

Autumn 2020

Plot

P1

Species name

Number of Individuals

16/8/2020

1

Number of hunters

2

2

Number of species shot

4
Fringilla coelebs

Lanius nubicus

Streptopelia decaocto

Passer domesticus

3

1

4

3

3

Number of species trapped

4

Number of species poisoned

5

Number of species for Market

Plot

T1

Species name

Number of Individuals

16/8/2020

1

Number of hunters

1

2

Number of species shot

5 Pernis apivorus

Lanius collurio

Apus apus

Carduelis cannabina

Carduelis carduelis

2

3

1

2

7

3

Number of species trapped

4

Number of species poisoned

5

Number of species for Market

Plot

S1

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 16/8/2020

1

Number of hunters

1

2

Number of species shot

4

Carduelis chloris

Turdus merula

Saxicola torquatus

Muscicapa striata

3

1

1

1

3

Number of species trapped

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

Plot

S4

Species name

Number of Individuals

16/8/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x x x

3

Number of species trapped

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x x

Plot

T2

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 6/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

T3

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 6/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

T4

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 6/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

S5

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 6/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

1

2

Number of species shot

x

x

3

Number of species trapped

1

Falco tinnunculus 1

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x

Plot

S6

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 6/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

2

2

Number of species shot

5

Passer domesticus

Elanus caeruleus

Phylloscopus collybita

Prinia gracilis

Sylvia atricapilla

3

1

2

1

8 using calling machine

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

S7

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 6/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

 

 

 

 

Plot

T5

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 7/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

2

2

Number of species shot

3

Carduelis carduelis 3
Cardualis cannabina 4
Emberiza melanocephala 1

3

Number of species trapped

1

Carduelis carduelis 7

4

Number of species poisoned

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

 

Plot

P3

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 7/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

 

Plot

P4

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 7/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

 

Plot

S8

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 2/9/2017

Date 7/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

3

2

Number of species shot

4

Pernis apivorus

Clanga pomarine

Circaetus gallicus

Sylvia atricapilla

2

3

1

5

3

Number of species trapped

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

 

Mountain Slope

Plain Anjar

Plain Kfarzabad

 

Plot

P1

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 27/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

3

2

Number of species shot

4

Carduelis cannabina 3
Oenanthe hispanica 2
Lanius nubicus 1
Saxicola rubicola 6

3

Number of species trapped

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

Plot

T1

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 27/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

S1

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 27/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x x x

3

Number of species trapped

x x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x x x

5

Number of species for Market

x x x

Plot

S4

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 27/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

3

2

Number of species shot

5

Passer domesticus 4
Hirundo rustica 5
Philloscopus collybita 2
Buteo vulpinus

Milvus migrans

2

1

3

Number of species trapped

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

Plot

T2

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 18/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

T3

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 18/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

T4

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 18/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

S5

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 18/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

1

2

Number of species shot

3

Fulica atra 2
Passer domesticus 4
Ixobrychos minutus 1

3

Number of species trapped

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

Plot

S6

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 18/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

S7

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 18/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

1

2

Number of species shot

3

Cettia cetti

Nycticorax nycticorax

Gallinula chloropus

1

1

1

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

data SUMMARY for Anjar/ Kfarzabad

In the Table 1, we present the results of the monitoring during the fall 2020 at Anjar/Kfarzabad.

Fall 2020

# of plots studies

24

# of hunters encountered

20

# of Illegally killed species

30

# of Illegally killed individuals

109

Average richness per plot

1.25

Average indiv. Number per plot

4.54

Average species per hunter

1.5

Average # of individuals per hunter

5.54

Globally threatened species

0

Game birds species recorded

1

Number of species trapped

2

Number of soaring species

6

The following species appeared in 2 plots each: Lanius nubicus, Pernis apivorus, Carduelis cannabina, Emberiza melanocephala, and Sylvia Atricapilla.

The following species appeared in 3 and 4 plots respectively: Carduelis carduelis and Passer domesticus.

Qaraoun. This sub black spot is represented by the IBA artificial lake to the west of the Qaraoun village and by the public state property to the east of this village. Due to the nature of the land, only point counts (1 to 9) (Plate 2) were randomly selected for the monitoring of the illegal killing of birds.

During the autumn 2020, all Point counts were monitored.

2.1- RESULTS of the sampled plots at Qaraoun sub-black spot (30 minutes per Point count)

 

Lake

Mountain

 

Plot

6

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 20/8/2017

Date 17/8/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

7

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 20/8/2017

Date 17/8/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

8

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 20/8/2017

Date 17/8/2020

1

Number of hunters

1

2

Number of species shot

1

Alauda arvensis 3

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

9

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 20/8/2017

Date 17/8/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

 

 

Lake

Mountain

 

Plot

5

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 7/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

2

2

Number of species shot

5

Egretta garzetta 1
Egretta alba 1
Ardea cinerea 1
Fulica atra 5
Anas platyrhynchos 3

3

Number of species trapped

x

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x

Plot

4

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 7/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

1

2

Number of species shot

1

Actitis hypoleucos 1

3

Number of species trapped

x

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x

Plot

3

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 7/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

X X

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

2

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 7/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

1

2

Number of species shot

1

Tringa nebularia 1

3

Number of species trapped

x

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x

Plot

1

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 7/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

1

2

Number of species shot

4

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta garzetta

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Fulica atra

3

2

4

2

3

Number of species trapped

x

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x

Plot

6

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 28/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

4

2

Number of species shot

7

Falco tinnunculus 1
Pernis apivorus 9
Alauda arvensis 22
Carduelis cannabina 6

3

Number of species trapped

x

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x

Plot

7

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 28/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

3

2

Number of species shot

4

Alauda arvensis 8
Milvus migrans 3
Buteo vulpinus 5
Garrulus glandarius 1

3

Number of species trapped

x

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x

Plot

8

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 28/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x
x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

9

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 28/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x
x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

 

 

Lake

Mountain

 

Plot

1

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x
x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

2

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x
x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

3

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

2

2

Number of species shot

3

Actitis hypoleucos 1
Tringa totanus 2
Anas platyrhynchos 5

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

4

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x
x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

5

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x
x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

6

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x
x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

7

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x
x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

8

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

1

2

Number of species shot

2

Alectoris chukar 6
Falco tinnunculus 1

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

9

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x
x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

2.2- data for Qaraoun

In the Table 2 we present the results of the monitoring during hunting season the fall 2020 at Qaraoun Lake sub-blackspot during September, October and November.

Table 4

Fall 2020

# of plots studies

22

# of hunters encountered

16

# of Illegally killed species

19

# of Illegally killed individuals

97

Average richness per plot

0.86

Average indiv. Number per plot

4.41

Average species per hunter

1.35

Average # of individuals per hunter

1.19

Globally threatened species

0

Game birds species recorded

1

Anas platyrhynchos

Number of soaring bird species

5

The following species were hunted on 2 occasions: Fulica atra. Egretta garzetta, Ans platyrhynchos, Actitis hypoleucos, Falco tinnunculus, and Alauda arvensis.

Khirbet Qanafar

This is the third sub-black spot in the QBS. It occupies the eastern slopes of Barouk-Niha mountain (West Beqaa Valley). It is formed from a dense growth of brush, shrubs, and young forest, alder stands and abandoned farmland, including old apple orchards. The hunting occurs on the state owned lands that are under the overall supervision of Khirbet Qanafar municipality. Due to the nature of the land, only three point counts (Plate 3) are selected as they correspond to three hunting vantage points used mainly for thrushes (point 1), woodcocks (point 2) and ducks (point 3), and to a lesser extent other species of the season.

During the opened hunting seasons, particularly during September, October and November in autumn 2020, all Point counts were monitored.

3.1- RESULTS of the sampled plots at Khirbet Qanafar sub black spot (30 minutes per Point count).

Plot

1

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 7/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

3

Number of species trapped

x

5

Number of species poisoned

x

7

Number of species for Market

x

Plot

2

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 7/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

3

Number of species trapped

x

5

Number of species poisoned

x

7

Number of species for Market

x

Plot

3

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 7/9/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

3

Number of species trapped

x

5

Number of species poisoned

x

7

Number of species for Market

x

Plot

1

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 28/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

3

4

Black Kite 5
Sylvia atricapilla 8
Fringilla coelebs 2
Phylloscopus trochilos 3

3

Number of species trapped

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

Plot

2

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 28/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

1

2

Number of species shot

2

Sylvia atricapilla

Passer domesticus

5

4

3

Number of species trapped

x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

5

Number of species for Market

x

Plot

3

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 28/10/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

1

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

2

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

x

2

Number of species shot

x

x x

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

Plot

3

Species name

Number of Individuals

Date 19/11/2020

1

Number of hunters

4

2

Number of species shot

2

Grus grus

Buteo rufinus

11

1

3

Number of species trapped

x

x x

4

Number of species poisoned

x

x x

5

Number of species for Market

x

x x

 

 

 

3.2- data for Khirbet Qanafar

In the Table 3 we present the results of the monitoring during hunting season of the fall 2020, particularly September, October and November.

Table 3

Fall 2020

# of plots studies

9

# of hunters encountered

8

# of Illegally killed species

7

# of Illegally killed individuals

39

Average richness per plot

0.78

Average indiv. Number per plot

4.33

Average species per hunter

0.87

Average # of individuals per hunter

4.75

Globally threatened species

0

Game bird species recorded

1 Fringilla coelebs

Number of soaring bird species killed

3

 

Comparison of the Richness and abundance in the three sub-Blackspots