Each year, up to 36 million birds are illegally killed in the Mediterranean. Traps, nets, guns, and electronic decoys present deadly obstacles and contribute to the declines of these migratory species. An estimated 14.5 million birds are poached within the European Union, despite decades-old bird conservation legislation similar to the Migratory Birds Treaty Act. Gregg will explore the issue of bird poaching in countries such as Cyprus, Italy, and Lebanon. Photographs and stories from the front lines of antipoaching activism will be shared as we explore some of the causes of this devastation of birds and look toward the strategies and actions that can make their skies safer.
Jason Gregg is an ornithologist and writer based in the United States. He has worked as a field biologist and researcher with conservation organizations throughout the US and abroad and has been involved with antipoaching activism since 2016.