Jordan BirdWatch for the protection of birds and their environment
Category: Control of invasive alien species
Control of invasive alien species in Wadi Gharaba, Special Conservation Area, invasive species in the Jordan Valley, restauring ecosystem, birds and people…
Unpublished report by Jordan BirdWatch, about the economic benefits of harvesting the invasive mesquite shrub in Jordan as means of controlling it spread.
JBW (2022)
Towards the protection of threatened birds in Jordan: Assessing the current status of the near endemic Syrian Serin Serinus syriacusin Jordan.
Unpublished report by Jordan BirdWatch including status, threats and results of a workshop with local authorities and groups of interest to develop an action plan for saving the breeding population of Syrian Serin at Dana.
JBW (2023)
Using Prosopis juliflora pods as feed supplements for small ruminants at Wadi Gharaba (Jordan Valley).
Unpublished report by Jordan BirdWatch on how to harvest and use the pods of alien invasive mesquite as supplementary fodder, as one of the means of controlling its spread.
JBW (2023)
Report on the impacts of the Common Myna Acridotheres tristis on agriculture and wild birds, and results of monitoring invasive species in Wadi Gharba (Jordan Valley).
Unpublished report of the first study about the impacts of invasive common myna in Jordan, by Jordan BirdWatch, Amman.
Implementing measures to control invasive alien species in Wadi Gharaba Special Conservation Area
وضع اجراءات للحد منالانواعالغازیة في منطقة وادي غربة الھامة بیئیا
Supported by the GEF Small Grants programme in Jordan
This project was carried out succesfully during 2022-2023 and included field work and a training workshop in cooperation with local groups of interest, and preparing technical reports. The project demonstrated the economic benefits and means of controlling invasive mesquite Prosopis juliflora.
Common myna (Acridotheres tristis), alian invasive species
The project also included studying the impacts of invasive common myna on farms and on native bird spcies. Further activities included maintenance of the signs around Wadi Gharaba SCA and means of restoring the wetland ecosystem. These are the final activities of the current management plan for protecting the bird habitats along Wadi Gharaba SCA. which was completely implemented by Jordan BirdWatch during the previous five years (2019-2023). The management plan for the next five years is currently being up-dated to continue efforts for saving the remnant marsh-like bird habitat, according to previous acheivements and lessons learned.
Bilboard in Wadi Gharaba, March 2020
Demonstrating means of controlling invasive mesquite Prosopis juliflora
Prosopis juliflora is one of the worst invasive plants worldwide and in the Jordan Valley, it is spreading rapidly due to livestock grazing and is an indicator of intensive disturbances. Once it dominates, it causes further deterioration of ecosystem functions, by competing with native trees and consuming large amounts of ground water. Different approaches were used to control the growth of this invasive plant in Wadi Gharaba. The utilization of P. juliflora pods as alternative feed is one of these approaches. The other is harvesting the trees for their wood.
Harvested and ground dry pods of Prosopis juliflora
As conclusion of this project’s activities
P. juliflora pods are a valuable source of nutrition for ruminants, providing a range of nutrients that can help to improve animal growth and health. Our studies show that fattening Awassi lambs’ diets containing P. juliflora pods did not adversely affect animal health or nutrient intakes. In addition, boy weight of weaning lambs increased due to partial replacement of barley grain by P. juliflora pods. It is thus rational to consider the ground pods as suitable supplement fodder that enhances production and profitability in arid and semi-arid areas where P. julifora shrubs have become invasive and abundant.
Introducing the use of the mesquite pods as an alternative feed to local communities will encourage them to adopt this technology and help to control the spread of invasive P. juliflora. It is important to note while introducing this technology to local communities, that mesquite pods must be ground to make sure the partially digested whole seeds do not spread through animal dropping.
GrindingControling livestock health
In conclusion, feeding the ground pods as part of a fodder mixture to ruminants can provide a number of benefits:
Benefit as nutritious feed for livestock The pods are a good source of protein, fiber, and minerals, which can help to improve animal growth and health.
Feeding the pods can help to reduce the cost of feed, particularly in areas where other feed ingredients are scarce or expensive.
Using ground pods as supplementary fodder can help to control the spread of the invasive P. juliflora in Jordan Valley and Wadi Gharaba. The environmental benefits would be releasing the grazing pressure on native plants and minimizing spread by decreasing the number of invasive mesquite pods.
Impacts of Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis
The interaction between common myna and hole-nesting birds like bee-eaters, king-fishers and little owls was observed at Wadi Gharaba SCA during the previous years. Although two pairs of myna occur along the edges of the wadi, no interactions such as competition for nesting sites were observed. The mynas used man-made structures for nesting and often crossed the wadi without utilizing the natural habitat there. Its negative impact on native birds in this area is still considered very low or absent.
Farmers stated that physical factors like lack of water, high salinity of water and soil, and weather conditions (like prolonged heat) during the planting seasons were the most important factors affecting agricultural production in the south Shuna area. Pests and adverse weather were considered most important causes for the losses they experienced, followed by other causes like animals, mainly stray dogs, wild boars and birds. Common mynas have no or in some farms only a marginal effect on agriculture in the south Shuna area. Thus, we recommend further studies in different parts of western Jordan where mynas inhabit agricultural areas with different types of crop. We also recommend continuous monitoring as (a) habitat, crops and other environmental conditions may change, thus changing the myna’s diet and feeding behavior, and (b) farmers may become more aware of the possible impacts of mynas, given that over 75% of the interviewed farmers hardly see the myna inside the cultivated lands and/or are unable to disinguish the common myna from other bird species.
as part of the project “Implementing measures to control invasive alien species in Wadi Gharaba Special Conservation Area“
A workshop to raise awareness, enhance cooperation among parties of concern and practical training, was carried out in June 2023 in Beit Sweimeh as part of the project “Implementing measures to control invasive alien species in Wadi Gharaba Special Conservation Area”, which is implemented by Jordan BirdWatch in cooperation with the a local cooperative “Society for the Development of the Jordan Valley”. Participants included the Forestry Department in South Shuna, The Rangers-Royal Department for Environmental Protection, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and local livestock and land owners. The project is supported by sGEF/UNDP.
Mesquite shrub (Prosopis juliflora), alien invasive species
Protecting the wetland habitat of Wadi Gharaba
In the introduction presented by Ornithologist and ecologist Dr Fares Khoury, the achievements and cooperation of institutions in protecting the wetland habitat of Wadi Gharaba was reviewed. Current threats and challenges were also discussed like overgrazing due to lack of regulatory action, illegal hunting due to lack of follow up by rangers, and pollution of the stream by waste water apparently originating from the hotels at the Dead Sea. Results of recent studies were also presented and these showed a dramatic decrease in the number of nesting Dead Sea Sparrows due to camel grazing that is destroying the Tamarisk shrubs. Overgrazing is generally degrading the wetland habitat and is causing the spread of the alien, invasive mesquite Prosopis julifora which is not just an indicator of severe disturbances, but once it dominates, a tipping point is achieved and the mesquite shrubs start affecting biodiversity, hydrology and ecosystem functions and services.
Common myna (Acridotheres tristis), alien invasive species
Invasive alien species
Invasive, alien species are animals, plants or other organisms that are introduced by humans, either intentionally or accidentally, into places outside of their natural range, negatively impacting native biodiversity, ecosystem services or human economy and well-being. Invasive alien species are one of the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss and species extinctions. Biological invasions also put human health, food security and livelihoods at risk, as highlighted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15.
How to control invasive species, a solution amongst many other
After the introductory part, the agricultural expert Mr Rawad Sweidan presented the ecological benefits and feasibility of harvesting both mesquite wood and pods. e.g. by collecting the dry pods and using them after grinding as supplementary fodder. Livestock owners who were trained during this workshop, can thus contribute to the control of the invasive shrub by collecting and grinding the dry pods and then using the product in their fodder mixtures, which saves feeding costs and releases grazing pressure. (see post…)
…collecting the dry pods and using them after grinding as supplementary fodder…
Common Myna is one of the most invasive bird species worldwide. It was first recorded in the Jordan Valley and then spread rapidly into other parts of Jordan. Although no effects on human economy or health has been reported in Jordan till now, the impacts on biodiversity is still poorly understood and not yet supported by strong evidence. In the Jordan Valley, it may compete with cavity – nesting birds such as bee-eaters and kingfishers. Participants agreed that common myna and the alien mesquite shrub should be controlled locally once it invades natural habitats and nature reserves using appropriate measures. However, eradication or even control is not possible in the long run if the causes for their spread are not being tackled.
Jordan BirdWatch, supported by UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme in Jordan, is implementing measures to control invasive alien species in “Wadi Gharaba A Special Conservation Area“.
Wadi Gharaba bird habitat
Jordan BirdWatch is continuing its attempts to restore the remnant wetland and bird habitat at Wadi Gharaba in the Jordan Valley. The current project focusses on invasive alien species, the spread of which indicates man-made disturbances to ecosystem function and habitat degradation.
Wadi Gharaba Special Conservation Area and invasive speciesCollecting seedsGrindingControling livestock health
Two widespread invasive species are the mesquite Prosopis juliflora shrubs and the common myna Acridotheres tristis . Activities include Implementing at a small scale control measures of Prosopis juliflora by harvesting dry pods and grinding them to be used as alternative, supplementary animal fodder and also use the mesquite wood for various purposes.
Harvested and ground dry pods of Prosopis juliflora
In addition, the impacts of the common myna bird on crops and hole-nesting birds in the Wadi Gharaba SCA and its surroundings is being studied in Jordan for the first time.
Common Myna studies in Wadi GharabaCommon Myna or Indian Myna in Jordan
JBW is working together with local stakeholders including the livestock owners and forestry department, together we are implementing various activities with the local cooperative “Beit Sweimeh”.
Fort further information see video on our Facebook page:
The impacts of introduced birds on native species and human economy and health are generally considered weak; however, these impacts e.g. on agricultural crops and on native birds by competing for nest sites or predation of nests, may vary according to the alien species itself and various factors in the area being invaded.
One of the most harmful invasive bird species at the global level is the common myna (Acridotheres tristis Linnaeus, 1766) that is originally native to Central and Eastern Asia (Lowe et al. 2000).
Researchers from Jordan BirdWatch, and the Biology Departments of the American University of Madaba (Jordan) and Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (Saudi Arabia), are carrying out joint studies on the spread and impacts of invasive species in the region. The results of the first detailed study on the spread and potential distribution of common myna in Jordan is published in the scientific journal “Management of Biological Invasions” (Khoury et al. 2021; https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2021.12.3.08).
The common myna spread into the Jordan Valley around 2010, as a result of secondary expansion of an invasive population from a neighboring country. Consequently, the myna expanded throughout many parts of Jordan, driven mainly by anthropogenic factors.
The Common myna, also called Indian Myna, can be seen nowadays in the hotel areas of the Dead Sea and Aqaba, in the streets of most Jordanian cities, in agricultural and semi-urbanized landscapes of the Jordan Valley and NW Jordan including the ruins of Jerash and Um-Qais, desert towns and other facilities along major highways.
Similarly in the case of the highly invasive mesquite shrub Prosopis juliflora which was subject to recent projects and studies by JBW in the Jordan Valley, the rapid expansion of alien invasive species indicate serious ecological disturbance caused by random and extensive urbanization, spread of various infrastructure in the landscape and in some cases (e.g. mesquite) overgrazing by livestock.
The study provides a nationwide baseline about the distribution of the invasive common myna, and potential for further spread, as a baseline for monitoring and prioritizing actions to control spread and impacts.
Jordan BirdWatch, in cooperation with the Jordan Valley Development Society and supported by sGEF/UNDP, carried out a training workshop in the Jordan Valley about nature/bird guiding.
Most participants belonged to the local communities at and around south Shuna.
The special conservation area of “Wadi Gharaba” was visited as part of this training. The wetland habitat in the wadi, managed by Jordan BirdWatch along with local stakeholders, is to be used for educational purposes and bird-watching.
Wadi Gharaba, Jordan Valley, was announced as a “Special Conservation Area” by the Ministry of Environment upon the request of JORDAN BIRDWATCH and after obtaining the approval of various stakeholders.
An SCA includes management of important habitats and ecosystems to conserve biodiversity while allowing limited or traditional use by local communities.
The nearly 5 Km² area is adjacent to the River Jordan and 7 km north of the Dead Sea. It is around 35 km (half an hour drive) from Amman. It includes a narrow, shallow wadi with marsh-like conditions and Tamarisk thickets, suitable breeding habitat for Little Bittern, Blue-cheeked and Little Green Bee-eater, White-throated and Pied Kingfishers, Clamorous Reed and Cetti’s Warblers and Dead Sea Sparrow.
The management plan was prepared by JBW during 2018, and includes activities for preparing the site for visitors and minimizing threats, namely overgrazing, encroachment by an invasive shrub, hunting of birds and waste management.
Soon after the management plan was prepared, however, new plans to invest within and around the SCA have been announced. Nonetheless, JBW along with supporters is determined to protect the natural bird habitats along the wadi which flows into River Jordan. GIZ and SGF/UNDP are supporting JBW in carrying out two projects at the site in 2019-2020 (see projects for more information).
For information on how to reach the site and for organized birding trips please contact JBW.