Implemented locally by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), the project aims to safeguard migratory birds from hunting, pollution and environmental degradation.

Ten other countries - Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - are involved in the project, which is funded by the UNDP and supervised by Birdlife International.

"It is not enough to protect migratory birds in Jordan only, all countries located on the birds' flyway should be involved in order to avoid a possible environmental catastrophe,” National Component Project Manager Abdul Razzaq Hmoud said on Sunday.

He noted that the Rift Valley-Red Sea route is the world’s second most-used flyway, with more than 1.5 million birds crossing it during migration seasons in spring and autumn.

Migratory birds in the southern hemisphere use the route to return to Europe and the northern hemisphere in the spring. On the way, they stop over in places like the Jordan Valley to rest and drink water.

A total of 37 types of migratory soaring birds, which maintain flight by using rising air currents, travel the Rift Valley-Dead Sea flyway annually, according to Hmoud.

At least five of these are globally endangered, such as white storks, black storks, buzzards, eagles and vultures.

"Such birds are exposed to many dangers while flying over Jordan, but hunting is the number one threat they face,” Hmoud said.

"Because of their relatively large size, soaring birds form an easy target for hunters, especially in the region and Gulf countries where hunting is associated with people's customs and traditions," he told The Jordan Times.

Hmoud said one of the project’s phases will include educating hunters about the ecological importance of soaring birds.

The project will also target sectors operating close to the birds' flyway such as agriculture, investment and energy.

"Destruction of soaring birds' natural habitat such as wetlands and desert oases, is another main threat as farmers pump out water from the wetlands," Hmoud said.

As birds are usually attracted to the reflection of water while flying, ecologists expect that the Kingdom’s shrinking wetlands will force migratory birds to travel further to find places to eat and rest.

Another threat the birds face when travelling through the region is pollution.

"Excessive pesticide use and improper waste disposal causes the death of large numbers of migratory birds every year as some consume contaminated plants while others drink from ponds polluted with chemicals," Hmoud said.