Author: abdulnasser eisa

As part of the Libyan Society for Birds’ ongoing programs to monitor populations and nesting of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in Libya, Mr. Mahfouz Al-Ruqai contacted Professor Khaled Etayeb, President of the Society, reporting an unusual gathering of approximately 160 individuals at a farm in the Al-Heera area.

In response to this valuable information, a team from the Libyan Society for Birds conducted a field visit to the site on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, aiming to document the number of birds accurately and check for any ringed individuals, which could provide insights into their migration routes. Upon arrival, the team observed that the storks had already left the site, prompting a survey of the surrounding areas to locate the flock; however, no individuals were found.

These initiatives highlight the importance of engaging local communities in documenting species and studying their movements, contributing to a better understanding of the ecological patterns of migratory birds. The Libyan Society for Birds expresses its sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr. Mahfouz Al-Ruqai for his cooperation and dedication in reporting this sighting and encourages all community members to participate in wildlife monitoring and report similar observations to support scientific efforts in bird conservation and habitat protection.

On Tuesday morning, 18 March 2025, a meeting of the Preparatory and Scientific Committee for the Mediterranean Conference on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity was held at the Library of the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli, to review the latest updates regarding the organization of the conference scheduled to take place in Tripoli from 12 to 14 April 2025.

The meeting was attended by Professor Khaled Etayeb, President of the Libyan Society for Birds and Chair of the Scientific Committee for the conference, alongside representatives from relevant governmental bodies and ministries. This meeting is part of a series of preparatory sessions aimed at ensuring that all final arrangements proceed as planned.

Participants discussed several key topics, including the readiness of the scientific abstracts booklet, final arrangements for the organizational, scientific, and service committees, and a review of supporting and participating entities.

At the conclusion of the meeting, attendees emphasized the importance of continuing committee sessions until the end of the conference to ensure the success of this significant scientific event.

On 19 June 2024, the first record of the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) in Libya was documented in the Ain Zara area of Tripoli. A pair of these birds was observed among residential houses, and local residents reported the presence of a small group congregating near a waste disposal site in the same area.

The Common Myna is considered one of the most dangerous invasive bird species worldwide due to its high competitive abilities and negative impact on native bird populations. It was first recorded in Egypt in 1998 and subsequently spread to several neighboring countries, suggesting the possibility of its introduction into Libya through the bird trade.

Researchers warn of the potential impact of this species on the country’s biodiversity, particularly if measures are not taken to monitor and control its spread. This record forms part of the Libyan Society for Birds’ ongoing efforts to track invasive species and assess their effects on the local environment.

Full details of this record are available in the research published in the scientific literature on the platform.

Prof. Khaled Etayeb, President of the Libyan Society for Birds, participated in the inaugural meeting of Libya’s Blue Economy Committee, held on Thursday, 13 March 2025, at the meeting hall of the Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli, in his capacity as a committee member.

The meeting opened with a welcoming speech by the Committee Chair, who provided an overview of the committee and its assigned tasks. This was followed by remarks from the Dean of the Faculty of Science, who welcomed the attendees and praised the selection of the faculty as the venue for the first meeting, emphasizing the importance of the blue economy and the need for collaborative efforts to ensure the program’s success.

The meeting addressed the discussion of agenda items and the allocation of tasks among members. The committee’s operational mechanisms and the responsibilities assigned to its members were clarified. After extensive discussion, a date for the next meeting was agreed upon.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Committee Chair and members expressed their gratitude to the Faculty of Science administration for hosting the inaugural session.

Tripoli – Thursday, 6 March 2025

Prof. Khaled Etayeb, President of the Libyan Society for Birds and Chair of the Scientific Committee for the Mediterranean Conference on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, participated in the preparatory committee meeting for the conference, held today at the Libyan Planning Institute. This meeting was part of a series of preparatory sessions ahead of the conference scheduled to take place in Tripoli from 12 to 14 April 2025.

The meeting was attended by the Chair of the Preparatory Committee and representatives from several governmental and institutional bodies, including the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Marine Resources, the Ministry of Planning, the Libyan Planning Institute, the Decision Support Office at the Prime Minister’s Office, the University of Tripoli, and the Libyan Society of Artisanal Fishery Friends.

During the meeting, several key topics were discussed, most notably:

• Monitoring the work progress of the organizational, scientific, and service committees.
• Participating and supporting entities for the conference.
• Local and international scientific contributions.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Preparatory Committee expressed its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Director of the Sustainable Development Department, Mr. Mustafa Al-Arqat, for hosting the meeting at the Libyan Planning Institute, which he concluded with full support for this important scientific event, wishing success to all participants.

On 4 January 2025, a significant event in bird observation was recorded in Benghazi, Libya, with the sighting of the Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), a species commonly found in North America.

This record adds substantial value to the understanding of biodiversity in Libya and underscores the importance of continued monitoring and documentation of migratory species across the country’s diverse habitats.

Full details of this record are available in the research published in the scientific literature on the platform.

Tripoli – Monday, 24 February 2025

Prof. Khaled Etayeb, President of the Libyan Society for Birds and Chair of the Scientific Committee for the Mediterranean Conference on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, participated in the preparatory committee meeting for the conference, held today at the Library of the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli. This meeting was part of a series of preparatory sessions ahead of the conference scheduled to take place in Tripoli from 12 to 14 April 2025.

The meeting was attended by members of the Preparatory Committee, representing several governmental and institutional bodies, including the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Marine Resources, the University of Tripoli, and the Libyan Society of Artisanal Fishery Friends.

During the meeting, several key topics were discussed, most notably:

• Monitoring the progress of the organizational, scientific, and service committees.
• Participating and supporting entities for the conference.
• Local and international scientific contributions.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Preparatory Committee expressed its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli, for its kind hosting and support in preparing for this important scientific event.

The Libyan Society for Birds held its 2nd regular meeting of 2025 on Saturday, 22 February 2025, at 10:00 AM, at the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli. The meeting was attended by the Society’s President, the Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs, and several members of the Society, while some members participated remotely via Google Meet. The following agenda items were discussed:

Agenda Item 1: International Waterbird Census 2025 (IWC)

The 2025 International Waterbird Census was reviewed during the meeting. The Society President commended the efforts of the participating team and expressed gratitude to the institutions that contributed to the success of this national effort, including:

• Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli.
• National Research Center for Tropical and Transboundary Diseases.
• Bessida Society for the Protection of Farwa Island and Lake, for their role in the census in the Greater Zuwara area.
• Libyan Organization for Conservation of Nature – Misrata, for their contribution to the winter survey in the Greater Misrata area.
• Alhaya Organization for Protection of Wildlife and Marine Organisms, for their role in the survey in Derna monitoring areas.
• Albarari Organization for Nature Conservation, for their participation in the census of waterbirds in the Western Mountains.

The President also noted that the 2025 census data is currently being entered and will be presented in the next meeting.

Agenda Item 2: Launch of the Libyan Birdwatching Platform

The meeting coincided with the official launch of the Libyan Birdwatching Platform, which was announced by the Society President at 12:30 PM on 22 February 2025 at the headquarters of Libyan Spider Company. The President emphasized the importance of members’ attendance at this event and expressed sincere thanks to:

• The technical partner, Libyan Spider Company, for their valuable efforts in making the platform successful.
• The Libyan Society for Birds team responsible for coordinating and collaborating with the Libyan Spider team for their outstanding work.

Agenda Item 3: PROZHUM Project for Supporting and Restoring Wetlands in the Mediterranean

The meeting discussed the PROZHUM project, aimed at supporting and restoring wetlands in the Mediterranean, to be implemented by the Libyan Society for Birds in the Ain Tawergha area. The Head of the Tawergha Local Council was expected to attend but was unable to do so due to other commitments.

The project leader presented a detailed report covering:

• Project objectives, planned activities, and timeline.
• The necessity for the team to adhere to deadlines to ensure the project’s successful completion within the planned 22-month period.

No additional matters were raised under “Any Other Business.”

The meeting concluded at 11:30 AM in a spirit of cooperation and optimism toward achieving the goals set for 2025.

Mr. Abdulnasser Eisa
Meeting Secretary.