Ninth "Journey to the Zagbor Habitat" Tourism Festival Held in Biarjomand
The head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of Shahroud County said: "The ninth 'Journey to the Zagbor Habitat' Tourism Festival was held in the Biarjomand district of Shahroud County, in the target tourism village of Qaleh Bala, with a wide public استقبال."
According to Mirath-Aria, quoting the Public Relations of the General Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Semnan Province, Hamid Reza Hassani added: "The ninth 'Journey to the Zagbor Habitat' Tourism Festival was held on Thursday and Friday, November 1st and 2nd [Gregorian calendar]."
He said: "Hundreds of tourists participating in this festival, while visiting the historical texture of Qaleh Bala village, the Geyvar-Dezian tourism route, and the wildlife species in the Turan Biosphere Reserve, participated in ritual ceremonies and local music programs."
Hassani added: "The offering of handicrafts and souvenirs, a birdwatching workshop, and painting and creating Zagbor elements were among other programs of this festival that were welcomed by tourists."
He said: "This tourism festival was held with the aim of tourists visiting the Zagbor, an endemic Iranian bird whose main habitat is the Turan Wildlife Biosphere Reserve."
The Zagbor, or Desert Magpie, is a bird from the crow family but has many differences from other crows and magpies, including being ground-dwelling, to the extent that it prefers running to flying even when it senses danger. This bird has a pleasant voice and a brownish-tan color, and the Zagbor is referred to as a rare and precious jewel of the desert. This bird, with its special beauty, is considered one of the natural tourism capabilities of the region.
The Zagbor lives only in the desert and semi-desert regions of eastern and southeastern Iran and is the only endemic bird of Iran, living in the provinces of Yazd, South Khorasan, and especially in the southeastern part of Semnan province within the Turan Wildlife Biosphere Reserve.
The head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of Shahroud County said: "The Biarjomand Governorate, the Turan National Park Department, the Islamic Council and the Village Council of the target tourism village of Qaleh Bala, and the eco-lodges of Qaleh Bala participated in organizing this festival."
Shahroud County has one city, eight exemplary tourism areas, and eight target tourism villages. Every year, with the implementation of various tourism festivals, enthusiasts travel to the exemplary areas and target villages for recreation and nature tourism.
Biarjomand is located 110 kilometers southeast of Shahroud and 310 kilometers from the center of Semnan province.