The country hosts 540 types of birds; The raven is a unique species of Iran

Zaghbor” is one of the birds that lived only in Iran and not only has no similar anywhere in the world, but also its geographical distribution is unique to Iran. In Iran, 540 species of birds have been identified and reported so far, which can be said to be equivalent to all the species of birds in the European continent. As it is clear from its name, birds rarely choose a specific place to live due to traveling long distances in the sky and extensive migrations. For this reason, it is very difficult to identify a bird as specific to a specific place. However, Iran hosts a large number of bird species due to its special geographical location in the world and the same climate diversity.

Pest control through hunting and insect population control, promotion of public health, seed dispersal, ecosystem cycle circulation and environmental stabilization are among the effects that birds have in the field of environment and it cannot be denied.
According to the report of the Environmental Protection Organization in Iran, 540 species of birds in 22 orders and 78 families have been identified and reported, which is equivalent to the total number of bird species in the European continent. It can be said that this number is equivalent to all bird species in the European continent. Most species are birds that rely on wetlands, but unfortunately, the pollution and destruction of Iran’s wetlands in recent years has become a factor in reducing the number of many bird species in Iran. Now, birds such as “Siberian tern”, “Balaban”, “White-headed duck”, “Ewe”, “Golden eagle”, “Marble duck” and a number of other species are under threat and extinction in the country.

But what can draw attention the most is the existence of a very beautiful and valuable species called “Bor raven”, which is known from all over the world and can be lived in the world, only a small part of Iran’s one million and 648 thousand square kilometers area. has chosen to live and has nothing similar anywhere else in the world. The following report introduces this special valuable bird, which introduces a small part of the characteristics of this creature along with the characteristics of its natural environment.

A bird that cannot be found anywhere else in the world

The most famous creature that all Iranians are familiar with is the Iranian “leopard”. But it must be said that this valuable mammal, which is also known as “Asian cheetah”, lived in the vast plains of the vast continent of Asia until one or two centuries ago, and due to the destruction of its habitat and the loss of its prey, it reached the plains and limited areas of Iran. Convinced to live. In the same way, “Iranian Gore” or “Yellow Deer”, “Lion”, “Tiger” and “Caracal” have either lived in a wider area of ​​Iran and are now limited to Iran, or have similar relatives in other places.

But the yellow raven is a creature that has not been found anywhere else in the world so far, and the most important thing is that this bird, despite the flight characteristics of other birds, has remained in Iran and has not migrated anywhere else.

Until now, there is no record of the life of the brown raven in the world, and despite the flight characteristics of birds, this bird has remained in Iran and has not migrated anywhere else. He lives in Iran. This bird, which is known by the English name “Pleske’s Ground-Jay” or “Persian Ground-jay”, is only about 24 cm long.
The brown raven with the scientific name “Podoces pleskei” has a pea color so that it can hide itself well from the hunters in the central deserts of Iran. In addition to this feature, he identified the black raven with a black spot on the throat and around the beak and tail wings and black tip.

Zagh Bor has been observed only in the central and eastern deserts of Iran and the provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan, Razavi and South Khorasan, Semnan, Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman and Fars. Something that will not be easy to find due to its small size and the color of this bird, which is the color of the soil of these areas. Perhaps the most similar bird to the gray raven is the “hooded” or “shoulder to head”, with the difference that the gray raven does not have a crown on its head and its relatively long beak is slightly bent down. The behavior of this bird is very interesting. The magpie is a “ground-dwelling” bird, like the partridge and the tyke, and prefers walking on the ground to flying most of the time. Strong legs allow the raven to run fast and escape from danger even in times of danger.

The survival status of the golden raven

Due to the endemic nature of the raven, most of the information about this animal can only be obtained by studying and researching its habitat. But in recent years, there has been no reliable or official news about the population of Zagh Bor. However, it can be said that there is not much concern about the survival of this animal. Of course, this does not mean that this creature is not threatened. Human factors such as habitat destruction and excessive use of natural resources are among the causes of death and population decline of this terrestrial bird.
Also, among other dangers that threaten the life of the ravens, it is hunted by other animals (including eggs) such as foxes, snakes and livestock that reduce the vegetation of the area. Fortunately, due to living in uninhabited areas, their hunting by humans is rare.

The habitat of this bird is the same area where a plant called “scissors” grows. Qeech is a shrub with many woody branches that can be seen scattered in desert areas in steppe plant communities. The main habitats of Qich in Iran are southeast of Shahrood, Khorasan, Zanjan, slopes overlooking Sefid Ab mountain and desert plain, Anark and Chopanan heights.

Tourism capacity of Zaghbor

Since this bird mostly lives in the remote and deprived areas of Iran, one of the necessary measures for the development of these areas is the expansion of tourism with a bird-watching approach and showing birds such as the raven, and there are people who are ready to see and hear the sound of this bird. have a significant cost

Tourism in any field can attract capital and currency. Whether through business, travel and historical activities, or through activities such as close and direct observation of wildlife in nature. This feature is also present in birds and has recently been noticed as an economic activity. Bird watching is an activity based on respecting nature and enjoying the beautiful and mysterious world of birds. This activity is more close to tourism and is considered one of the important sub-branches of the tourism industry.
Searching and finding free and wild species of birds, the pleasure of watching them, photographing them if possible and adding the name and other characteristics of the species to the observation list (Life List) of each person, is what this activity attracts many enthusiasts in the present era. It has attracted itself and is the most popular and profitable branch of ecotourism in the world.

The black raven is also among the birds that, due to its endemicity in Iran, has a high capacity to attract domestic and foreign tourists. Since this bird mostly lives in the remote and deprived areas of Iran, one of the necessary measures for the development of these areas is to expand tourism with a bird-watching approach and show different birds, including the raven. Both male and female birds are singers, and in the breeding season, they sit on the branches of tall bushes and sing a beautiful song with a loud voice. A scene that may not be very attractive to the general public, but there are people who are willing to pay a significant amount to see and hear the voice of this bird, and even its fans are willing to pay a million dollars to see its beauty and listen to its voice.