Barn Owl Conservation Project Bridges Israeli-Arab Divides
A long-running conservation project centered on barn owls has fostered cooperation between Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian researchers despite regional conflicts. Scientists from 12 countries met in Greece last week to discuss the initiative, which began in the 1980s in Israel and has since expanded across the Middle East.
The project promotes barn owls as a natural alternative to pesticides, as a single pair can consume thousands of rodents annually. To support their population, conservationists have installed thousands of artificial nesting boxes in Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian territories, Cyprus, and Morocco. Retired Jordanian Gen. Mansour Abu Rashid helped introduce the program to Jordan in 2002, incorporating tracking technology to monitor the birds’ movements.
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While the ongoing war in Gaza has disrupted fieldwork, researchers continue their collaboration through online meetings. The primary impact on the program has been the destruction of nesting areas in southern Lebanon due to fires. Overcoming regional superstitions about owls has also been a challenge, leading to awareness campaigns in schools and universities.
An Associated Press article quoted Yossi Leshem, professor emeritus at Tel Aviv University, saying, “Barn owls know no boundaries; they fly between Jordan, Palestine, and Israel.”
