Waterbird Census of Fars Province
Comprehensive Survey of Waterbird Populations in Fars Province Wetlands
In 2022, the DOE of Fars Province entrusted the AvayeBoom Bird Conservation Society with conducting the waterbird and shorebird census to ensure accurate data for wetland management decisions. AvayeBoom, the only NGO dedicated to bird conservation in central Iran, conducted the census in thirteen wetlands with the participation of local volunteers and enthusiasts, supervised by the DOE of Fars Province.
Key Findings
The census, following the standards of the Wetlands International waterbird census program, covered 13 sites over an area of 179,340.4 hectares, with an average of 85% coverage per site. Conducted in January and February, the census recorded a total of 20,027 birds from 76 species. The largest family counted was ducks, with 6,782 individuals. The highest bird population was recorded at Lake Tashk, despite most of this site being dry.
The most counted birds were flamingos with 4,437 individuals and common cranes with 3,726 individuals. In total, 10 species of birds of prey that depend on wetland habitats were observed. Among the endangered waterbirds and shorebirds observed were four species: the Dalmatian Pelican (NT), the Common Pochard (VU), the Ferruginous Duck (NT), and the Black-tailed Godwit (NT).
Training Local Volunteers
AvayeBoom Bird Conservation Society actively involves local volunteers, birdwatchers, and rangers in its projects, including the waterbird census in Fars Province. For this project, we engaged 4 birdwatchers, 5 local volunteers, and 7 rangers, providing them with the necessary training and skills to conduct similar projects independently in the future. This approach not only ensures the success of current projects but also builds local capacity and expertise, fostering sustainable conservation efforts. Training local volunteers is a core value of AvayeBoom, as it empowers communities to take an active role in protecting and managing their natural resources.
Acknowledgments
The AvayeBoom Bird Conservation Society extends its sincere gratitude to the DOE of Fars Province and to all the volunteers who participated in the census. Their dedication and hard work were instrumental in the successful completion of this project.
The detailed report in Persian for this project has already been published and is currently being translated into English.
Collaborative Ecosystem Management in the Arzhan Wetland Area
The Collaborative Ecosystem Management project in the Arzhan Wetland area is executed by the Parishaan Heritage Association located in Kazeroon, in collaboration with SGP/UNDP in the Arzhan Wetland area. Some of the activities defined in this project are related to the development of birdwatching, increasing public awareness about birds in the local community, and supplementary studies on the birds of the area. The Avaye Boom Association and the Parishaan Heritage Association have signed a memorandum of understanding, according to which the birdwatching and ornithology part of this project has been assigned to Avaye Boom.
During this project, Avaye Boom conducted educational workshops in the area and produced visual content on birds in the Arzhan plains to increase public awareness of the biodiversity of birds and improve bird conservation. Also, the selection of a notable bird or birds of the area and the training of birdwatching guides in this project will be conducted by Avaye Boom.
It is worth mentioning that the collaboration between the Avaye Boom Association and the Parishaan Heritage Association has been ongoing for the past two years, and these two associations have been active in various fields alongside each other.
Final Report of the Project (Selection of the Flagship Species in the Arzhan Plains):
The Collaborative Ecosystem Management project in the Arzhan Wetland area concluded in 2023
The final report of Avaye Boom in the section on the selection of the flagship species is available for download below.
