Author: abdulnasser eisa

Waterbird census activities in the monitoring sites of Zuwara region concluded on Friday 16 January 2026. The census has started on Thursday 15 Jan. 2026 as part of the international program for the January count of migratory waterbirds in wetlands.

The fieldwork was carried out by a joint monitoring team comprising the Libyan Society for Birds, the Ministry of Environment, Bessida Society for Protection of Farwa Island and Lagoon, the University of Tripoli, and the National Center for Research on Tropical and Transboundary Diseases.

Monitoring Sites:
On Thursday, the census covered the following sites:

• Mellitah Sabkha.
• Al-Mankoub Sabkha.
• Zuwara Port.
• Abu Kammash Sabkha.
• Qutoufa Sabkha.
• Fum Al-Wadi area.

On Friday, the monitoring activities included:

• Farwa Island and Lagoon.
• the coast from Farwa to Abu Kammash.
• Abu Kammash Salt Pans.
• Ras Ajdir Sabkha.

Environmental Observations:
During the census, monitoring team observed the effect of drought in some sites, particularly Qutoufa Sabkha, where complete dryness was recorded and no waterbirds were observed. This represents an environmental indicator that requires follow-up and further assessment. Similar conditions were also noted at Mellitah Sabkha.

The conclusion of the census activities in Zuwara region comes within the framework of supporting environmental monitoring efforts and strengthening scientific databases related to waterbirds and wetlands, thereby contributing to the conservation of biodiversity in Libya.

Libya is facing a growing and serious increase in illegal hunting and the killing of birds, including both land and waterbird species. In many areas, birds are now openly displayed and sold in butcher shops and public markets, in clear violation of national laws and international conservation agreements.

According to BirdLife International, around 25 million birds are illegally killed each year in the Mediterranean region. Data also show that Libya is among the most affected countries, with an estimated 500,000 birds killed illegally every year. These include migratory birds passing through Libya as well as species that live in the country year-round.

Illegal hunting is causing serious harm to nature. It reduces bird numbers, damages natural and farming environments, and weakens important natural services such as pest control. Libya plays a key role as a migration route between Africa and Europe, and continued bird killing threatens this role and the survival of many species.

Libya has signed international agreements to protect birds, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on Migratory Species, and AEWA. These agreements require the country to protect birds, especially migratory and waterbirds, and to stop illegal hunting, trade, and public sales.

Photos and videos shared on social media, especially Facebook, show widespread hunting of many well-known species, including warblers, thrushes, doves, and the European Turtle Dove, which is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Waterbirds are also heavily targeted in wetlands, lakes, and coastal areas. Species such as Greater Flamingos, herons, ducks, and waders are being hunted at key resting and feeding sites, causing long-term damage to their populations.

Recent bird counts in Libya show a clear decline in several migratory species compared to previous years, raising serious concern, especially as this decline matches the rise in illegal hunting.

The Libyan Society for Birds (LSB) urges the responsible authorities, especially the Ministry of Environment, to take immediate action. This includes stopping the sale of birds in markets, enforcing existing laws, increasing field monitoring, and raising public awareness about the importance of birds and their role in protecting nature.

Photos: from Facebook.

The Libyan Society for Birds announces the publication of the Technical Report of the International Waterbird Census (IWC) in Libya, presenting the results of systematic field monitoring conducted between 2019 and 2023. The report was prepared within the framework of the International Waterbird Census (IWC), in coordination with the Mediterranean Waterbirds Network and the Tour du Valat Institution.

This report reflects five years of structured and methodical fieldwork, documenting both migratory and resident waterbird populations across the Libyan state. It provides a comprehensive scientific assessment of the status of waterbirds and identifies key ecological trends affecting their populations, particularly in the context of increasing natural and human-induced pressures on wetland ecosystems nationwide.

The report represents the outcome of broad collaboration among national institutions, environmental organizations, experts, and volunteers, who sustained monitoring and data collection efforts despite the significant security and environmental challenges faced in Libya throughout the reporting period.

Institutions Involved in the IWC Implementation:

The International Waterbird Census in Libya was implemented through the participation of several GOs and NGOs including:

• Libyan Society for Birds (LSB)

• Ministry of Environment, Libya

• University of Tripoli

• Libyan Organization for Conservation of Nature (LOCN)

• Besida Society for the Protection of Farwa Island and Lagoon

• Al-Hayat Organization for the Protection of Wildlife and Marine Organisms

• National Research Center for Tropical and Transboundary Diseases

• Bado Society for the Protection of Marine and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Key Findings:

• A total of 47 volunteers and experts contributed to field monitoring activities over the five-year period.

• Seventeen wetland sites were monitored regularly, with a minimum of seven visits per site, during the period 2009–2023.

• Twenty-three new wetland sites were surveyed for the first time between 2019 and 2023.

• Significant fluctuations in the population sizes of several species were recorded during 2019–2021, with an apparent decline largely attributed to reduced field coverage during years of armed conflict.

• Monitoring coverage improved substantially in 2022–2023 following enhanced coordination with environmental NGOs, enabling the documentation of broader species diversity.

• Notable population declines were recorded for several species, including the Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus), Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), and Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), while population increases were observed for species such as the Great Black-headed Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) and the Little Stint (Calidris minuta).

• The Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei) showed a marked increase in 2023, with higher numbers compared to previous years and confirmed presence at 39 sites along the Libyan coastline.

Wetlands and Ramsar Sites:

The report indicates that the Ain Al-Zarqa and Ain Al-Shaqiqa wetlands – both designated as Ramsar Sites – have experienced a significant decline in waterbird numbers. This finding highlights the urgent need to strengthen conservation measures and ensure the long-term ecological integrity of these critical habitats.

The report also identifies additional Libyan wetlands that meet the criteria of the Ramsar Convention and warrant international protection, most notably:

• Farwa Island and Lagoon, located in western Libya near the Tunisian border. This rare tidal wetland system in the Mediterranean Basin serves as a vital stopover site for migratory birds traveling between Africa and Europe and supports high biodiversity, including loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). The area was designated as Marine Protected Area in 2009, with ongoing efforts to establish participatory management involving local communities.

• Jalyana Sabkha, near the center of Benghazi, which hosts more than 3,000 waterbirds representing approximately 40 species, including an important breeding colony of the Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis).

Environmental Challenges:

The report identifies several natural and human-induced pressures affecting waterbird populations in Libya, most notably climate change, associated drought and reduced rainfall, habitat degradation, and unregulated and illegal hunting.

Significance of the Report:

This report constitutes a key national scientific reference for understanding the status of waterbirds and the challenges they face in Libya. It serves as an essential tool for environmental planning, policy development, and decision-making, while supporting efforts to protect wetlands and biodiversity in alignment with Libya’s regional and international environmental commitments.

Over all, the Libyan Society for Birds emphasizes that this report provides a robust scientific foundation for the continuation of national monitoring programs, the strengthened protection of ecologically significant wetlands, and the enhancement of national and international cooperation frameworks, contributing to the long-term conservation of waterbirds and biodiversity in Libya.

The first record of the White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) in Cyrenaica, eastern Libya. The observation was made on 25 August 2025 in the Kroom Al-Khayl area, located approximately 12 km west of Tobruk, where an adult individual was recorded at a coastal agricultural site considered suitable habitat for migratory waterbirds.

This record represents the first occurrence of the species in eastern Libya and the second confirmed record in Libya, following its initial documentation in Misrata (western Libya) in 2022. The observation supports the hypothesis of occasional range expansion or irregular vagrancy of this species toward North Africa, particularly in light of recent records outside its traditional sub-Saharan distribution range.

The finding highlights the ecological importance of Libyan coastal habitats and wetlands, both natural and artificial, in supporting waterbird biodiversity. It also underscores the need for continued systematic monitoring and scientific documentation to better understand the dynamics of this species’ presence in Libya and to determine whether it will remain a rare visitor or become more regularly recorded in the future.

For further details, the full scientific paper is available in the Scientific Publications section of this platform.

The fourth meeting of the Libyan Society for Birds was held on Wednesday morning, 10 December 2025, at 14:00, at the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli.

The meeting was opened by the Society’s President, Prof. Khaled Etayeb, who welcomed the members and introduced the session. This was followed by a presentation and discussion of the items listed on the agenda, which included:

• Activities of the BROZHUM: “Engaging the Local Community in the Restoration of Tawergha Wetland Project”, implemented by the Libyan Society for Birds in cooperation with the Tawergha Municipal Branch.
• The Anti-Plastic Pollution Project in Farwa Island, implemented by the Besida Society for the Protection of Farwa Island and Lagoon, under the supervision of the Libyan Society for Birds, as part of national efforts to mitigate plastic pollution in coastal habitats.
• An overview of the Society’s recent activities and participation in national and international environmental events.
• Preparations for the International Waterbird Census (IWC 2026), including discussion of logistical and scientific aspects to ensure high-quality data collection.
• The launch of the English version of the “Birds of Libya Monitoring Platform” website, aimed at expanding access to information and strengthening scientific collaboration with researchers and enthusiasts beyond Libya.

The meeting concluded at 15:00 following a constructive discussion that reaffirmed the Society’s commitment to supporting national efforts for bird conservation, protecting biodiversity, and advancing scientific research in ornithology.

As part of the Engaging the Local Community in the Restoration of Tawergha Wetland project (PROZHUM), implemented by the Libyan Bird Society in cooperation with the Tawergha Municipal Branch Council, a field training course on bird identification was held on Saturday, 6 December 2025, aiming to raise environmental awareness among youth.

The training was attended by the Tawergha Scout Group, and the event witnessed remarkable interaction and engagement from participants, reflecting the importance of such activities in promoting a culture of biodiversity conservation and the protection of natural ecosystems, particularly wetland habitats.

At the end of the event, the Libyan Bird Society expressed its sincere appreciation to all participants from the Tawergha Scout Group for their positive engagement and contribution to the success of this environmental activity. Special thanks were extended to Mr. Saleh Al-Qadi, Head of the Tawergha Municipal Council, for his continuous support of the project, as well as to Mr. Mokhtar Shartil, Director of the Entrepreneurship Office in Tawergha, for his efforts in coordinating and supporting environmental awareness initiatives in the city.

The Mediterranean Waterbird Network (MWN), in cooperation with the Tour du Valat Institute and partner organizations in 13 Mediterranean countries, including Libya, has published a summary report of the results of the International Waterbird Census (IWC) covering the period 2019–2023.

The report provides a comprehensive scientific assessment of the status of waterbirds and wetlands in the Mediterranean Basin, based on field data collected through a regional coordination network aimed at supporting biodiversity conservation efforts and promoting the sustainable management of wetland ecosystems across the region.

Extensive Field Monitoring Efforts:

The report indicates that more than 10,500 volunteers contributed to data collection during the monitoring period. A total of 2,972 wetland sites were monitored regularly (at least seven times) between 2009 and 2023, providing a long-term database for environmental trend analysis. In total, 210 species of waterbirds were recorded during the current reporting period.

Key Findings: Diverging Trends and Growing Climate Impacts:

Scientific analyses revealed significant variation in waterbird population trends across the Mediterranean Basin, notably:

• Alarming Declines in the Southern Mediterranean: Globally threatened species, such as the White-headed Duck in Algeria and Tunisia, and the Marbled Teal, have shown continuous population declines. The report attributes these trends mainly to wetland loss and degradation, in addition to the increasing impacts of climate change on species distribution ranges.

• Stability and Recovery in the Northern Mediterranean: In contrast, parts of northwestern and central Europe have recorded stable or increasing populations for several species. This positive trend is largely attributed to improved conservation measures and the availability of a well-managed and effective wetland network.

Sites of International Importance and Ramsar Criteria:

The report identified 222 wetland sites in participating countries that meet the international importance criteria for waterbirds (supporting either 20,000 waterbirds regularly or 1% of a specific species’ global population). However, it noted that only about 50% of these sites are currently designated as Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance, highlighting a clear legal protection gap and a major opportunity to strengthen the regional protected areas network.

Avian Influenza:

A dedicated section of the report addressed developments related to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses (HPAIVs) since 2022, which have caused unprecedented mass mortality events, particularly among colonial species such as pelicans and gulls. The report strongly recommends strengthening wildlife health surveillance programs and enhancing data exchange among countries to improve epidemic monitoring and limit disease spread.

Call for Strengthened Regional Cooperation:

The report concludes by emphasizing that the conservation of waterbirds in the Mediterranean Basin is a shared regional responsibility, requiring:

• Enhanced cooperation among countries.
• Improved quality and continuity of scientific data.
• Accelerated wetland restoration programs to confront the accelerating impacts of climate change and ensure the long-term sustainability of waterbird populations.