Author: abdulnasser eisa

As part of the EU-funded Habitrack Project, BirdLife Malta successfully tracked a full migration cycle of a European Turtle-dove (Streptopelia turtur) named “May”. The bird was tagged in April 2024 at the Comino ringing station, using a lightweight, solar-powered tracking device.

Data revealed that May migrated from her breeding grounds in Sicily, passing through Libya and across the Sahara Desert to Mali, where she spent the winter after covering more than 3,300 km. In spring 2025, she returned again via Libya in a challenging journey that included a failed attempt to cross the Mediterranean due to storms, before finally succeeding in reaching Sicily and settling back at her previous nesting site.

These findings highlight the crucial role of Libyan territory as an important corridor for migratory birds, while also revealing the significant natural and human-induced challenges these species face. They further underline the urgent need to strengthen conservation efforts, particularly given the continuation of unsustainable hunting practices that pose a direct threat to birds during migration.

Photos: BirdLife Malta.

With the onset of autumn, falcons of the genus Falco begin their migration across Libyan skies. These birds represent an important component of local ecosystems and serve as a valuable symbol of the country’s biological heritage. However, these species face increasing threats in Libya from illegal capture and trade, particularly during migration periods.

Eleven species of the genus Falco have been recorded in Libya, namely: Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus, Vulnerable – VU), Merlin (Falco columbarius), Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae), Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor, VU), Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus), Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug, Endangered – EN), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), and Barbary Falcon (Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides).

Unfortunately, illegal methods are used to capture these falcons, including the use of smaller birds, such as kestrels or doves, as bait to lure them into traps. This practice constitutes a serious threat to the targeted species, particularly those listed on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable or Endangered.

In addition, the cross-border trade of these birds is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which Libya is a party. Any illegal capture or trade thus represents a clear violation of international obligations.

Protecting falcons in Libya is a shared responsibility of local communities, government authorities, and civil society organizations. Halting illegal capture and regulating the trade of these birds is essential to ensure the survival of these species and to safeguard our natural heritage and ecosystem balance for future generations.

Libyan Society for Birds.

On 7 August 2025, a single adult Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina) was observed and photographed in Tripoli, Libya, standing on a domestic water tank in a residential area. This represents the first documented record and observation of the species in the wild within Libya.

The Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina) is widely distributed across the Sahel region of Africa; however, this sighting is the first of its kind in the wild in Libyan territory. Its occurrence outside its typical habitats—such as wetlands and grasslands—is likely due to natural vagrancy, dispersal, or the possibility of escape from captivity.

This record extends the known distribution range of the species northward and highlights the importance of continued field monitoring of birds in Libya to document and conserve the country’s biodiversity.

The finding has been published in the Libyan Journal of Environmental and Engineering Science and Technology (LJEEST), providing a new scientific reference on the avifauna of Libya and their conservation status.

For further details, the full paper can be accessed through the Publications section of this platform.

A new scientific study has confirmed the breeding of the Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) in both western and eastern Libya. The research was conducted by the Libyan Society for Birds, in collaboration with the Alhaya Organization for Protection of Wildlife and Marine Organisms.

This represents the first documented evidence of breeding for this species in Libya, as most previous records were based on unconfirmed observations or indirect signs. The study highlights the importance of the field activities carried out by both organizations in monitoring bird populations and enhancing knowledge of the country’s biodiversity.

The findings have been published in the Libyan Journal of Environmental and Engineering Science and Technology (LJEEST), providing a new scientific reference on raptors in Libya and their conservation status.

For further details, the full paper can be accessed through the Publications section of this platform.

the first record of the African Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis) in Libya has been documented in a scientific paper published in Waterbirds on 15 August 2025, under the title:
“First Record of African Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis, Latham, 1801) in Libya”
DOI: 10.1675/063.048.0111

In November 2024, the species was recorded at Sabkhat Umm Hufayn, approximately 50 km east of Derna, where a single dead individual was found as a result of hunting, alongside several species of ducks. This represents the first official documentation of the African Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis) in Libya.

This record adds valuable knowledge to the understanding of biodiversity in Libya and underlines the importance of continued monitoring and documentation of migratory species across the country’s diverse habitats. It also highlights the critical role of Libyan wetlands as key stopover and breeding sites for both migratory and resident birds, as well as the contribution of Libyan researchers to advancing scientific knowledge at both regional and international levels.

As part of its ongoing activities to monitor and assess wetlands of ecological importance for birds, the Libyan Society for Birds conducted a field visit on Friday, 8 August 2025, to the Angeela Sewage, located west of Tripoli, with the aim of surveying bird diversity in the area.

During the survey, several species of waterbirds and terrestrial birds were documented, including a large breeding colony of Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), highlighting the ecological significance of the site as a key habitat for nesting and foraging of this species.

These findings underscore the need to strengthen efforts to protect and conserve wetlands in Libya, given their critical role in supporting biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance.

As part of the ongoing collaboration between the Libyan Society for Birds and the Alhaya Organization for the Protection of Wildlife and Marine Life, the Life Organization conducted a field visit to Al-Barda’a Island on Friday, July 18, 2025, within the framework of its regular program for monitoring the status of migratory waterbirds.

The visit aimed to assess the nesting status of waterbirds on the island. Preliminary findings indicated the presence of only old nests of the European Shag, with no recent evidence of nesting activity by other species during this period. These data are important for tracking the behavior and changes of waterbird species, especially in light of the environmental challenges facing the Libyan coasts.

This visit underscores the importance of long-term field monitoring to better understand changes in site use by migratory birds, thereby contributing to the development of effective strategies for their protection and the conservation of their habitats.

In conclusion, the Libyan Society for Birds extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to the Alhaya Organization for the Protection of Wildlife and Marine Life for its valuable efforts and continued cooperation in the field of biodiversity conservation in Libya.