Iraq - birds and enviroment

What a good thing to read. The Marshes, an area in the fertile crescent I've been hoping to hear some news about, is making a come back. Saddam blocked/drained water flow in the Marshes where Marsh Arabs have lived for thousands of years. This was in retaliation of their uprising after the first gulf war. The culture intrigues me. The history does as well. This may very well be the seat of the birth of civilization. After Saddam was captured, the US army reflooded the area and there is an effort underway to re-establish the connecting waterways which once existed. A good chunk of the marshes have been restored. Much more needs to be done.

All this has been to the benefit of native/local bird species.

BBC