Vanellus gregarius
Almost
90%
Population decline since 1990
Over
100,000
Migratory birds shot annually in Syria alone.
An estimated
11,200
Mature birds left
why is it important?
The sociable lapwing is one of the world's rarest birds. This unique bird has a beautiful ochre, feathery coat, long black legs, and adorable black eyes. Typically hailing from the Eurasian steppes (Oiseaux Birds, 2021), this bird has been spotted all over Europe and the Middle east. This sought-after creature has birdwatching fans all over the world looking for both the individual birds and the migrating colonies. While the Lapwing may seem unimportant in the grand scheme of things, without these birds their habitat will lose an important omnivore and its main predator (Rook) could lose one of its important prey (Oiseaux Birds, 2021).
Mountain Altai Kurai Steppe Russia
why is it endangered?
A major threat to the Sociable Lapwing is the conversion of their native grasslands for human agriculture and livestock development. Illegal hunting along the species’ migratory route is another massive issue, especially in Syria. According to (Oiseaux Birds, 2021), since the 1990s the vulnerable species has faced a species decline of about 90%. This is a direct result of the rapid, inconsiderate urbanization and the utter destruction of lapwing nests from cattle grazing. Additionally, the Lapwing is a k-selected species and invest more into their fewer offspring. They tend to have populations that fluctuate near the carrying capacity of their environment.
(Eric francois Roualet, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2016)
environmental values
This sweet, little bird is a vital part of both its ecosystem and it's food chain. Birds help with seed dispersal, increasing genetic diversity among plants. This occurs when birds eat seeds/plants then leave droppings as they fly, spreading the reach of the seeds (Law, 2019). The Sociable lapwing is necessary for increasing not only genetic diversity among plants, but also biodiversity as a whole. Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, it includes all organisms, species, and populations (“What is Biodiversity?,” 2010). The Sociable lapwing specifically aids in pest control by eating pests and insects in their environment (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2018). Specific environmental conditions in the Eurasian Steppes have led to characteristic adaptations among not only plants but also in the animals. (Ponomarenko, 2021). For example the Sociable Lapwing is a highly migratory species allowing it to move as the weather changes, this means that when the weather or conditions are not ideal they can just move elsewhere (Oiseaux Birds, 2021).
Sociable Lapwing Food Web
Economic value and harm
Hunting in Syria, an activity with deep cultural roots and national tradition, can provide families with food and income. Hunting, especially birds, is a common and respected hobby in Syria. It has been a consistent contributor to Syrian tourism and has been benefiting the economy for centuries. But, hunting is detrimental to vulnerable species and it has proven to destroy unique species such as the Sociable Lapwing. It is estimated that more than 100,000 migratory birds are annually shot in Syria alone (Datazone Bird Life, 18 January 2022). Unregulated Syrian and foreign hunting have been contributing to catastrophic population decline of internationally endangered species (The Guardian, 2022).
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The Sociable Lapwing has a very strong association with grazing cattle, they even lay their delicate eggs in cattle dung. Their relationship with these species has been critically altered through the rapid industrialization of the meat and agriculture industry, especially in Syria. The industry is internationally causing land fragmentation, pesticide poisoning, overgrazing, and biodiversity loss (Oiseaux Birds, 2021). The development of the grasslands and steppes is resulting in the Lapwing’s habitat to be fragmented and developed to the point of it being inhabitable. Stricter farming regulations are needed in order to combat these issues, but this is not an easy task. The agriculture industry is an economic resource for over 46% of the Syrian population. Additionally, the Syrian Civil War has caused unimaginable devastation of the country and it’s people both economically and politically (The Guardian, 2022). Implementing stricter laws at this time business at this time would be very taxing.
what has an can be done to help
In Syria 1994 and in Lebanon 1995, hunting of all animals was completely banned as a response to the drastic biodiversity loss. As most bans usually do, observation by law enforcement weakened over time until the ban was basically non-existent. The problem with illegal hunting has remained and has continued to threaten the same species.
In 2013, a Regional Declaration on Responsible Hunting was signed by regular hunters from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Ethiopia, and Yemen. This declaration was created to have documented, written commitment to work towards preserving the collective hunting traditions while still being responsible and not contributing to mass killings of threatened species.
Training workshops were carried out in Lebanon to build a stronger hunting law enforcement (ISF – Internal Security Forces, forest guards and nature reserves guards). The training should be implemented internationally for hunters who wish to receive a hunting permit. This training could prevent irresponsible hunting and keep weapons out of careless members.
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Hunting in Syria has been a major threat against the sociable lapwing population, Nature Iraq (An NGO dedicated to preserving biodiversity) have been engaging with hunters and conducting awareness raising activities in Iraq (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2018). The most dangerous impacts against this species are caused by human and agricultural disturbance. This could be remedied by informing humans in the ecosystem of the issues these birds face in hopes that they will work to protect these little birds.
Scientists have found success in tagging the birds and tracking their migratory habits in order to find more accurate data on behavioral patterns, population, and incubation.
One of the best ways YOU can help these little birds is to raise awareness to the danger they face, and to educate yourself on the impacts of hunting and agricultural disturbance on migratory bird species. Help us to push for stricter hunting regulations and increase the education on the impacts of the agricultural industry on endangered species.
