Author: abdulnasser eisa

Tawergha, Libya – 3 October 2026

The Libyan Society for Birds (LSB) has concluded the activities of the PROZHUM project in Tawergha, an initiative aimed at strengthening local community participation in wetland rehabilitation and conservation, while raising awareness of the ecological importance of wetlands and their role in preserving biodiversity.

The closing event marked the culmination of a series of activities implemented throughout the project, including awareness-raising workshops, training sessions and field activities designed to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills in wetland conservation, bird identification and biodiversity protection.

The programme included an introductory lecture on wetlands delivered by Mr Abdulnasser Eisa, who discussed the concept and characteristics of wetlands, their different types and ecological importance, the main threats they face, and the importance of engaging local communities in their protection and conservation.

The event also featured a comprehensive presentation on the PROZHUM project delivered by Professor Khaled Etayeb, who outlined the project’s overall programme, the main activities implemented, the results achieved throughout its duration, and the collaboration and engagement established with the local community and participating stakeholders.

At the end of the event, the Libyan Society for Birds honoured the organisations and individuals who contributed to the project and participated in its workshops, training programmes and field activities, in recognition of their efforts and cooperation in making the initiative a success.

The Society presented an honorary shield to Mr Saleh Al-Qadi, Head of the Tawergha Municipal Branch, in appreciation of his continued support and cooperation with the project. Another honorary shield was presented to Mr Mokhtar Shartil, Head of the Entrepreneurship Office at the Tawergha Municipal Branch, in recognition of his coordination, follow-up and contribution to implementing the project’s activities.

The Libyan Society for Birds expressed its sincere gratitude to all participating institutions, organisations and individuals for their cooperation, active engagement and valuable contributions, which helped implement the project’s activities and achieve its objectives.

The Society also extended special thanks to Mr Saleh Al-Qadi for his ongoing support and to Mr Mokhtar Shartil for his coordination efforts, which strengthened cooperation between the Society and the local community and supported the implementation of project activities in Tawergha.

The PROZHUM project forms part of the Libyan Society for Birds’ broader efforts to promote community participation in wetland conservation, support local initiatives that protect biodiversity, and encourage the sustainable use of natural resources.

The project was implemented with support from Tour du Valat and the French Office for Biodiversity (Office français de la biodiversité – OFB) under a programme supporting wetlands across the Mediterranean Basin.

A scientific study published in Biologia in 2021, entitled “Weather-influenced water-crossing behaviour of black kites (Milvus migrans) during migration,” investigated how Black Kites cross large bodies of water during migration and how weather conditions, particularly tailwinds, influence flight speed, crossing distance and the outcome of these journeys.

The researchers used GPS/GSM tracking technology to monitor Black Kites between 2014 and 2020.

A total of 32 Black Kites were fitted with tracking devices, including 30 nestlings from 19 nests and two adult birds.

The devices were deployed on birds in the following countries:

• Austria: 2 birds
• Bulgaria: 4 birds
• Czech Republic: 18 birds
• Germany: 1 bird
• Slovakia: 5 birds
• Ukraine: 1 bird
• Hungary: 1 bird

The researchers used solar-powered tracking devices weighing approximately 20 grams. These devices recorded the birds’ positions using GPS, generally at six-hour intervals, and transmitted the data through the GSM network.

Of the tracked birds, 11 were selected for analysis because they attempted direct crossings of large bodies of water outside their usual migration routes. Ten attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea, while one attempted to cross the Black Sea.

Key findings

The study revealed the remarkable ability of Black Kites (Milvus migrans) to cross extensive stretches of open water, with the longest recorded crossing reaching 542 km.

Average flight speeds during water crossings ranged from 27.7 to 97 km/h.

The researchers found a strong positive correlation between tailwind speed and average flight speed ((r = 0.90,\ p < 0.05)), suggesting that favourable tailwinds can help Black Kites increase their speed when crossing the sea.

Conditions generally associated with more favourable water crossings included:

• ☀️ Sunny to partly cloudy weather.
• 🌡️ Temperatures above 20°C.
• 💨 Supportive tailwinds.
• 🌀 Atmospheric pressure above 1013 hPa.

Three tracked Black Kites linked to migration between Greece and Libya

One of the study’s most relevant findings for Libya was the documentation of three Black Kites — BK2, BK7 and BK10 — associated with migration routes between Greece and Libya.

Black Kite BK2: A crossing that ended in mortality before reaching Libya

On 19 August 2017, BK2 departed mainland Greece towards Libya. The bird was approximately 88 days old when it crossed the sea and covered 459 km over water in 11.9 hours, at an average speed of 38.5 km/h.

However, it did not complete the journey. The bird died just 66 km from the Libyan coast.

Black Kite BK7: A southward crossing towards Libya

On 23 September 2019, another tracked Black Kite, BK7, was recorded following a migration route from Greece towards Libya. Its estimated age at the time of the sea crossing was 94 days.

Black Kite BK10: A remarkably fast Mediterranean crossing

On 17 September 2019, BK10 crossed from Greece towards Libya, covering approximately 395 km over the Mediterranean Sea in just 4.1 hours.

Its average speed reached 97 km/h, the highest average flight speed recorded in the study.

Why is this study important for Libya?

The findings add valuable evidence to our understanding of Libya’s position within the network of bird migration routes connecting Europe and Africa.

By documenting individual Black Kites travelling from Greece towards Libya, the study demonstrates how GPS/GSM tracking can reveal migration routes over the Mediterranean that are difficult to document through field observations alone.

It also highlights the importance of weather conditions in shaping migration behaviour and the challenges birds may encounter during long-distance sea crossings.

The Black Kite (Milvus migrans) is recorded in Libya as a passage migrant, reflecting the country’s role as a migration corridor between European breeding areas and African wintering grounds.

Bird photograph: eBird

GPS tracking maps: Literák et al. (2021)

A scientific study published in the African Journal of Advanced Pure and Applied Sciences (AJAPAS) has examined the effects of urban expansion and changes in water depth on waterbirds at Juliana Lake in Benghazi, Libya. The study was conducted by researchers affiliated with the Libyan Society for Birds (LSB).

Using data from the International Waterbird Census (IWC), the researchers investigated changes in the numbers of wading birds (waders) and diving birds (divers), and their relationship with the availability of shallow-water habitats.

The results showed a clear association between wading birds and shallow-water areas, with higher numbers recorded in years when these habitats were available. Diving birds, by contrast, appeared less closely associated with shallow-water availability, reflecting their greater reliance on deeper waters.

The monitoring data also revealed changes in the composition of the waterbird community during the study period, including notable fluctuations in the proportion of diving birds relative to wading birds in certain years.

These findings highlight the importance of Juliana Lake as a wetland habitat for waterbirds and emphasise the need to consider changes in water depth and habitat availability when managing and conserving urban wetlands.

Read the full study in the Scientific Publications section.

A scientific study published in Avian Research in 2021, entitled “Autumn migration of Ospreys from two distinct populations in Poland reveals partial migratory divide,” investigated differences in the autumn migration routes of two Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) populations in eastern and western Poland using GPS satellite tracking.

The researchers fitted 19 juvenile and adult Ospreys with GPS tracking devices between 2017 and 2020 and monitored their autumn migration.

Key findings

The results revealed a partial separation between the migration routes of the two populations.

Most birds from the eastern population travelled southwards, whereas those from the western population showed a stronger tendency to migrate southwest. The two populations also used different routes to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

The tracking maps published in the study show migration routes extending southwards across North Africa, with one route passing geographically through Libya before continuing further south.

The tracked birds reached several wintering areas across Africa, including Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Angola and Sierra Leone. One individual travelled to Spain instead of continuing to Africa.

Tracking signals were also lost for some birds in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Italy, although the reasons for signal loss could not be confirmed in every case.

Of the 19 Ospreys fitted with GPS devices, autumn migration routes were successfully obtained for 12 individuals.

Long-distance flights and migration patterns

The tracked birds demonstrated a remarkable capacity for long-distance travel, with individuals from both age groups covering approximately 800 km in 24 hours.

Birds from the eastern population travelled longer distances during migration than those from the western population. The difference approached statistical significance, despite the direct distances between their breeding and wintering areas being similar.

The difference in total route length was particularly evident over the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert, where birds from the eastern population travelled greater distances.

Some juvenile birds also exhibited longer stopovers and more pronounced stopover-site use than adults, suggesting differences in migration behaviour between age groups.

Mortality and threats during migration

The study reported minimum confirmed annual mortality rates of at least 67% among juveniles and 57% among adults.

Recorded causes of mortality included:

• Predation by the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis).
• Electrocution.
• Illegal hunting.
• Wind turbines.
• Unknown causes.

These findings highlight the considerable risks Ospreys may face during migration and the importance of identifying and reducing threats along their migratory routes.

Why is this study important for Libya?

The study adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting Libya’s geographical position within the network of migratory bird routes connecting Europe and Africa.

Its tracking maps illustrate the importance of North Africa and the Sahara Desert for migratory birds and show how differences in migration routes can affect total travel distances and exposure to potential threats.

GPS tracking provides a valuable tool for identifying migration pathways that may not be detected through field observations alone. Such information can help researchers and conservation organisations identify important migration corridors and improve understanding of the threats facing birds as they travel between continents.

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is recorded in Libya as both a winter visitor and a passage migrant, making further monitoring of its movements through the country particularly relevant to bird conservation.

Bird photographs: eBird

GPS tracking maps: Anderwald et al. (2021)

A scientific study published in Bird Study in 2026 has provided detailed insights into the movements and migration of the Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), following two females fitted with GPS tracking devices. The research is among the relatively few studies to investigate this species’ movements during both the breeding season and migration.

The study, entitled “Movements on the breeding grounds and during migration of female Eurasian Hobbies Falco subbuteo tracked with GPS loggers,” aimed to improve understanding of the species’ movements by examining:

• Home-range size during the breeding season.
• Female movements around nesting sites.
• Autumn migration routes from Europe to Africa.
• Daily distances travelled during migration.
• Flight speeds and behaviour while crossing the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert.

Study methods

The research was conducted in 2021 in the Sokółka Upland of northeastern Poland. The researchers searched for Eurasian Hobby nests in July and successfully captured two adult females near their nests.

Each bird was fitted with a solar-powered GPS-GPRS tracking device weighing just five grams.

The devices recorded the birds’ locations every 10 minutes. When an onboard accelerometer detected flight activity, the devices activated a boost mode, recording a new location every minute. The two females were tracked for 77 and 80 days, respectively.

Key findings

Differences in movements during the breeding season

The results revealed substantial differences between the two females in their use of the areas surrounding their breeding sites.

Female #7663 was relatively sedentary, with most of her movements occurring within 1.5 km of the nest. She travelled beyond 5 km on only three occasions.

In contrast, female #7640 was considerably more mobile. She generally moved within a 5 km radius but made several longer trips of between 10 and 26 km towards the end of the breeding season.

Their home ranges differed markedly:

• Female #7663: 1.47 km².
• Female #7640: 83.21 km².

Daily travel distances during the breeding season also varied considerably:

• Female #7663: 22.9 km per day.
• Female #7640: 61.3 km per day.

Autumn migration from Poland to Africa

On 1 September 2021, both females began migrating south from their breeding grounds in Poland, travelling across Europe towards the Mediterranean Sea. However, their behaviour when approaching the sea differed substantially.

Female #7663: A delayed Mediterranean crossing

This female remained near the Greek coast for nine days. During this period, she made six attempts to travel 50–100 km southwest over the sea, returning each time.

On her seventh attempt, she departed at approximately 03:00 and crossed the Mediterranean directly southwards, reaching the African coast about 10 hours later.

She covered approximately 960 km that day, including the sea crossing and a further 350 km across the Sahara Desert.

Female #7640: A more direct crossing

The second female crossed the Mediterranean on her first attempt, travelling between approximately 09:50 and 15:30. She covered around 772 km before stopping after reaching the African coast.

Crossing the Sahara Desert and the Sahel

After entering Africa, both females crossed the Sahara Desert within four to five days.

During the desert crossing, their daily travel distances ranged from 323 to 999 km, with some flights continuing through the night.

Once they reached the Sahel, their daily travel distances decreased to approximately 124–324 km. Crossing this region took between three and five days, depending on the individual.

One female completed an exceptional journey, covering 999 km in one 24-hour period, followed by another 799 km in the next 24 hours. This amounted to nearly 1,800 km in just 48 hours.

The last recorded locations of the two females

Female #7663

She continued southwards to the Central African Republic, where the tracking device stopped transmitting on day 32 of migration, before she reached her presumed wintering area.

Female #7640

She migrated more rapidly, crossing the equator on day 24 and continuing southwards until reaching Angola on day 30. The researchers considered this a potential wintering area before the tracking signal was lost.

The tracking signals from both birds were eventually lost in central and southern Africa, after they had travelled approximately 10,000 km.

Why is this study important for Libya?

The migration map published with the study illustrates the routes taken by both females from Europe to Africa. Their routes extend southwards across the Mediterranean and through North Africa, crossing Libyan territory before continuing across the Sahara Desert.

This finding is particularly important for Libya because it is based on GPS tracking data from two individually identified birds, rather than solely on sightings or inferred distribution ranges.

The study provides further evidence of Libya’s role as a geographical corridor for migratory birds travelling between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. It also demonstrates how GPS telemetry can reveal long-distance movements and migration behaviour that may be difficult to establish through field observations alone.

The Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) is recorded in Libya as a breeding migrant, making the documentation of its movements through the country particularly valuable for understanding its migration and seasonal movements.

Bird photograph: eBird
Migration route map: Mirski et al. (2026)

As part of the Libyan Society for Birds ongoing efforts to document biodiversity and monitor bird populations across Libya, a member of the Society conducted a field visit to an area south of the city of Gharyan.

This visit forms part of the Society’s continued activities aimed at improving knowledge of Libya’s birdlife, collecting field data, and documenting species across different natural habitats. These efforts contribute to supporting biodiversity conservation and promoting environmental awareness.

📷 Photography: Abdulsalam Muftah – Member of the Libyan Society for Birds.

A scientific study published in the Journal of Ornithology in 2026, entitled “Telemetry alone may not be reliable for a correct determination of population-level migration timing: lessons from Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae)”, highlights the limitations of relying solely on GPS tracking to determine the timing of migration across an entire bird population.

The researchers used Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) as a model species, tracking approximately 6.9% of an Italian breeding population in Sardinia during 2022 and 2023.

The study examined whether arrival dates recorded for a limited number of GPS-tagged birds could accurately represent the migration timing of the entire population.

To investigate this question, the researchers also analysed 498 Eleonora’s Falcon observations from Sardinia, collected through citizen-science platforms such as eBird, iNaturalist and Ornitho.it, alongside records from local ornithologists. These observations were then compared with GPS tracking data.

Key findings

The researchers obtained complete data for 14 spring migrations, comprising seven migrations in 2023 and seven in 2024. These data involved 12 individuals: nine females and three males, out of a total of 25 birds tracked using GPS.

The interval between crossing the Mediterranean Sea and arriving at the breeding colony was generally short, with a median of four days and a mean of 9 ± 14 days. Some individuals reached the colony on the same day they crossed the sea.

Arrival dates at the colony ranged from 7 May to 20 August, with most arrivals occurring in May. The mean arrival date was 28 May, while the median was 18 May. The earliest recorded arrival was on 7 May in 2023 and 10 May in 2024.

A clear discrepancy emerged between arrival timing estimated from field observations and that derived from GPS tracking.

Based on observational data, the estimated 10-day window for the end of pre-breeding migration fell between 17 and 27 April. However, none of the GPS-derived arrival dates fell within this period. The earliest GPS-recorded arrival was approximately 15 days later than the period estimated from observations, and 41 days later than the earliest recorded sighting.

Statistical simulations further demonstrated that tracking just seven birds provides a relatively low probability of accurately representing the arrival timing of the entire population. The estimated probability was only 15–20%.

According to the simulations, approximately 150–200 individuals would need to be tracked to achieve a probability exceeding 95% of adequately representing population-level arrival timing under the conditions of this particular study.

These findings suggest that migration dates derived from a small number of tracked birds may be useful for describing individual behaviour and migration routes, but may not be sufficient to determine the timing of migration for an entire population.

Libya’s role in the migration route

One particularly relevant finding for Libya concerns the migration routes illustrated in the study’s accompanying map, which shows the final stages of the birds’ spring migration towards Sardinia.

The study indicates that most individuals crossing the Mediterranean during this stage passed through the Sardinia Channel, arriving from Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.

This highlights Libya’s geographical position along Eleonora’s Falcon’s migration route through the central Mediterranean. It also provides further tracking-based evidence of the connectivity between bird migration routes in North Africa and the islands and countries of southern Europe.

Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) is recorded in Libya, where it is classified as a passage migrant.

The study also underscores an important methodological lesson for migration research: combining satellite telemetry with field observations and citizen-science records can provide a more representative understanding of population-level migration patterns than relying on tracking data alone.

Bird photograph: eBird
Migration route map: De Pascalis et al. (2026)

Bird taxonomy is expected to undergo an important global update in October or November 2026, with the release of AviList v2026, alongside the annual update of the eBird/Clements Checklist.

AviList, the global bird checklist, is an international initiative that aims to provide a unified taxonomic reference for the world’s birds through collaboration among leading taxonomic experts and institutions. Its first edition was published in June 2025, and annual updates are planned.

The 2026 update is expected to include several taxonomic and nomenclatural changes, including:

▪️ Splitting certain species into two or more distinct species (splits).

▪️ Merging some species (lumps).

▪️ Recognizing newly accepted species.

▪️ Changes to scientific names or genus classifications.

▪️ Updates to taxonomic and distributional information.

AviList has indicated that several proposals are currently under review by its Taxonomic Committee (TaxCom). However, these proposals should not be considered final decisions until the new edition is officially published.

Proposed changes of particular interest to Libya

Some of the proposals currently under consideration may be especially relevant to North Africa and Libya’s bird checklist.

1. Maghreb Wheatear – Oenanthe halophila

A proposal has been put forward to split the Maghreb Wheatear from the Mourning Wheatear (Oenanthe lugens). This is a particularly noteworthy proposal for North Africa.

2. Mediterranean Flycatcher – Muscicapa tyrrhenica

A proposal has been put forward to split the Mediterranean Flycatcher from the Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata).

3. Little Swift – Apus affinis

A taxonomic proposal suggests merging the Little Swift (Apus affinis) with the House Swift (Apus nipalensis).

4. The genus Emberiza

A proposal seeks to reorganize the genus Emberiza into several separate genera. If adopted in the final AviList v2026 update, this change could affect the scientific names and classification of several bunting species recorded in Libya.

Why is this update important for researchers and birdwatchers?

Taxonomic changes can affect species totals, national bird checklists, biodiversity databases, eBird lists, scientific studies, and long-term monitoring datasets.

For example, the 2025 Clements Checklist update added 40 species through splits and removed 18 through lumps, bringing the global total to 11,167 species in that edition.

The release of AviList v2026 and the 2026 eBird/Clements update will therefore be important for reviewing national bird checklists, including Libya’s, and determining whether any currently recorded species will undergo changes in their taxonomic status.

Note: All the proposals mentioned above remain under consideration and should not be treated as final taxonomic decisions until the relevant official checklist updates are published

A scientific study published in the journal Ardea in 2019, entitled:

“Individual Black-tailed Godwits do not stick to single routes: a hypothesis on how low population densities might decrease social conformity”

investigated the migration timing and routes of Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa) breeding in eastern Poland, focusing on variation in route selection among individuals and between migration years.

During the 2016 breeding season, researchers captured and equipped four adult Black-tailed Godwits in eastern Poland with tracking devices. The birds were subsequently monitored across several migration seasons, providing data on three consecutive autumn migrations in 2016, 2017, and 2018, as well as two spring migrations in 2017 and 2018.

The researchers used small solar-powered tracking devices to determine migration timing and routes, stopover locations, and wintering areas. The data from the Polish breeding population were also compared with previously published tracking data from Black-tailed Godwits belonging to the Dutch breeding population.

The study revealed considerable variation in migration routes among individuals from the same breeding population. Rather than consistently following a single migration route, individual birds showed substantial flexibility in their route choices between migration seasons.

During autumn migration, three major migration routes were identified, leading to wintering areas in Africa.

During spring migration, three different routes were identified as the birds returned to their breeding grounds in Poland.

Importantly, birds tracked over more than one migration season did not consistently follow the same route during either autumn or spring migration. Instead, route selection varied both among individuals and between years.

The map illustrates migration routes passing through Libya during the journeys between European breeding grounds and wintering areas south of the Sahara.

These findings add to the growing body of evidence highlighting the importance of North Africa, including Libya, within the wider Europe–Africa migratory network. They also emphasize the need to strengthen monitoring of migratory birds across different parts of Libya, particularly wetlands, coastal areas, open plains, and other sites rich in food resources that may serve as important stopover habitats during long-distance migration.

The Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) is recorded in Libya as both a winter visitor and passage migrant. According to the IUCN Red List, the species is currently classified as Near Threatened (NT).

📸 Photo: eBird

The Libyan Society for Birds (LSB), represented by its President, Prof. Dr. Khaled Al-Tayeb, is participating in the regional training workshop:

“Training on Monitoring and Recording Cases of the Illegal Killing of Birds (IKB) in the Balkans and North Africa”

The workshop is being held from 24–28 September 2026 in Zrenjanin, Serbia.

The workshop aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience and strengthen capacities in monitoring and documenting cases of the illegal killing of birds. It also introduces participants to methods and tools for data collection and analysis, contributing to broader efforts to protect birds and address illegal hunting and killing.

The first day of the workshop included a series of scientific presentations and practical training sessions, including:

🔹 Official opening of the workshop and training on monitoring and documenting cases of illegal killing of birds (IKB) in the Balkans and North Africa.

🔹 A presentation on the current situation of illegal killing of birds in the Mediterranean region.

🔹 A presentation on the survey of illegal killing of birds (IKB) in Serbia, covering both field and online survey methods, as well as the IKB database used by BPSSS and other tools for monitoring illegal killing cases across the Mediterranean region.

🔹 A practical demonstration of online IKB surveys and the development of data-collection forms.

🔹 A practical session on data collection.

🔹 An evening field activity, including a night survey to monitor illegal hunting of the Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix).

This workshop represents the first in a series of regional training workshops aimed at strengthening capacity for monitoring and documenting illegal killing of birds (IKB) across the Balkans and North Africa.

The participation of the Libyan Society for Birds reflects its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and knowledge exchange in bird monitoring and conservation, particularly in addressing threats such as illegal hunting and killing. It also provides an opportunity to benefit from international expertise in developing effective mechanisms for data collection, documentation, and analysis.

📍 Zrenjanin, Serbia
📅 24–28 September 2026