Residents of Btekhnay, in the Upper Metn region, rushed to capture and share photos and videos of a pair of hoopoes as they moved gracefully among the village’s pine trees. Many of these images were accompanied by informative captions highlighting the bird’s ecological significance and its vital role in supporting biodiversity.
The hoopoe feeds on herbs found in open grasslands and prefers soft-bodied insects such as worms and larvae, which it skillfully extracts from soil and narrow rock crevices using its long, slender beak. It also preys on small creatures like lizards and geckos.
Btekhnay is known for its lush green cover, with approximately 60% of its land area cloaked in dense vegetation. The village is home to expansive pine forests that thrive in the region’s unique sandy soil. These forests are not only a source of livelihood for locals but also play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and preserving biodiversity.
In a historic move, on March 13, 2025, the Btekhnay Endowments Council announced the designation of several plots of land as protected Hima areas (traditional community-conserved areas). The designated plots include parcels numbered 987, 989, 990, 991, 1002, 759, 766, and 761.
This bold initiative aims to:
✅ Protect local biodiversity
✅ Revive traditional land management practices
✅ Promote sustainable rural development
Local folklore holds a popular tale about the hoopoe, which says that the bird once told Prophet Solomon: “If you ever wish to punish me, I will seek refuge in endowment land (waqf), dust my wings with its sacred soil, and scatter it upon your palace—so the curse shall fall upon it.” The story is often told to emphasize the sanctity of endowment lands and the absolute prohibition against violating them.
Arabs also use the hoopoe as a symbol of sharp vision, saying: “Sharper-eyed than a hoopoe.” The renowned scholar Al-Jahiz noted that people believed the hoopoe used to guide Solomon to underground sources of water.
