In recent years, Palestinians have taken up bird trapping, or more specifically, parakeet trapping.The hunters make money by selling the birds as pets.The business is a rare source of income in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade since the Hamas group took power 15 years ago.The ring-necked parakeet is an invasive species of tropical bird that has spread in Israel and the Palestinian territories.The bright green birds with red beaks were most likely first brought to the area as pets.In Gaza, they are popular as caged songbirds.Khaled al-Najjar is a trapper and father of two children.Al-Najjar said of the parakeet, "It's a beautiful bird, and everyone loves it...I catch them to make a living and feed my children."The birds live on Israeli farms.But when workers come into the fields, the birds fly over the border fence into Gaza.The Palestinian trappers on the other side of the fence catch them in nets and other traps.The job can be dangerous.Israel has established a 300-meter area called a buffer zone along the fence.
