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Wetlands and wintering waterbirds in Libya, January 2005 and 2006
Abstract and Figures
Systematic surveys of mainly coastal wetlands in Libya were carried out for the first time in January 2005 and 2006, to identify sites of major importance for waterbirds in winter. In 2005, nearly 30,000 waterbirds were found, and in 2006 over 52,000, with large numbers of gulls recorded in both years. The surveys showed that Libyan wetlands are used by a range of species, notably the near-threatened Mediterranean endemic Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii, several other gull species, wildfowl and waders. Eurasian Cranes Grus grus were found well into the desert. Overall, Libyan wetlands are internationally important for waterbirds of Mediterranean lagoon ecosystems, including Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus and Slender-billed Gull Larus genei. They also provide different types of typical Mediterranean wetland habitat. A number of species rarely recorded were observed, including birds new to Libya, but the Critically Endangered Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris was not found. Waterbirds previously considered to winter exclusively south of the Sahara, such as Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides and Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus were also observed. Sightings of colour-ringed birds indicated that waterbirds wintering in Libya had migrated there from eastern, northern and western Eurasia.
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... Libyan wetlands are diverse from desert oases, fresh and salt water springs, salt marshes, coastal lagoons and man-made reservoirs and damps. In general, the majority of wetlands in Libya are shallow salt marshes, dry or semi-dry most of the year and sometimes connected to the sea (Sobkha) (Smart et al., 2006;EGA-RAC/SPA, 2012). ...
... During the seasons, the highest values were similar between winter and fall, due to the migration season, where winter in Europe is very cold, birds migrate to the southern Mediterranean searching of warm areas (Smart et al., 2006). Moreover, the study area provides a suitable habitat for roosting and food, which helps the birds to stay and nesting. ...
... However, Libya, with its relatively dry climate, is perceived as having few wetlands. It is also, ornithologically, the least known country of Mediterranean Africa (Smart et al. 2006). The diversity of habitats which characters the country provide refuge and food for many migrants which amounts to about 75% of avifauna of the country passing from western Palearctic region to the southern quarter. ...
... Therefore, the present paper investigated the population trend of sea birds species along the coast line of Libya and their response to the impact of some metrological factors. Azafzaf et al., 2005Azafzaf et al., , 2006 Smart et al., 2006; Hamza et al., 2008; EGA–RAC/SPA Waterbird Census Team, 2012). Meteorological data were obtained from the Libyan National Meteorological Center for the sites that occupied by seabirds during winter season (fig. ...
The coastline of Libyan is characterized by different wetlands that are used as roosting areas for many migratory marine birds. They provide shelter, food and nesting ground for many birds' species during their migration from their home to wintering grounds. Climate change considered as the greatest threat to natural communities in many the world's ecosystems. It is already affecting birds in different ways. Precipitation and moisture are critically important climate variables to birds. Marine (sea) birds are highly dependent on precipitation to sustain their wetland habitats. Data on wintering birds in Libya were collected through the years 2005-2010 and analyzed in order to investigate their relationships with some climatic factors. This study found that precipitation reductions and drought in critical stopover areas have negative implications for marine birds wintering in Libya. However, the decrease and increase in bird numbers were related to the rate of rainfall.
... Libya is located in the middle of the southern coast of the Mediterranean among the North African countries, it is considered a stopover and resting ground for many bird species Smart et al., 2006). Although bird studies have recently become active in Libya compared to neighboring countries that started their studies since the beginning of the last century, many studies, surveys and reports have been achieved (EGA-RAC/SPA, 2012; Etayeb et al., 2015;Zenati & Etayeb, 2022;Etayeb et al., 2023). ...
Birds move from one place to another without regard to international borders during their migrations. Particularly, the Mediterranean region is considered a link in the African-Eurasian bird migration route, especially migratory water birds. Among the North African countries, Libya is located in the middle of the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, it is considered a stopover and resting ground for many bird species. A Wood duck Aix sponsa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves Anatidae), species commonly found throughout North America, was recorded for the first time in Benghazi city at the eastern coastal part of Libya on 04 Jan 2025 in a Sabkha (salt marsh). It is a female characterized by the gray and brown color of the body with a white ring around the eyes. It can be confirmed that this species is not among the ornamental birds imported into Libya for trade but may have escaped from a farm in countries bordering Libya.
... Libya is located in the middle of the southern coast of the Mediterranean among the North African countries, it is considered a stopover and resting ground for many bird species Smart et al., 2006). Although bird studies have recently become active in Libya compared to neighboring countries that started their studies since the beginning of the last century, many studies, surveys and reports have been achieved (EGA-RAC/SPA, 2012; Etayeb et al., 2015;Zenati & Etayeb, 2022;Etayeb et al., 2023). ...
Birds move from one place to another without regard to international borders during their migrations. Particularly, the Mediterranean region is considered a link in the African-Eurasian bird migration route, especially migratory water birds. Among the North African countries, Libya is located in the middle of the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, it is considered a stopover and resting ground for many bird species. A Wood duck Aix sponsa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves Anatidae), species commonly found throughout North America, was recorded for the first time in Benghazi city at the eastern coastal part of Libya on 04 Jan 2025 in a Sabkha (salt marsh). It is a female characterized by the gray and brown color of the body with a white ring around the eyes. It can be confirmed that this species is not among the ornamental birds imported into Libya for trade but may have escaped from a farm in countries bordering Libya.
... The results of IWC 2022 in Libya are generally reasonable compared to the previous years (2013-2021), but they can be compared with the results of the beginning of the survey in Libya during the years from 2005 to 2012 Smart et al., 2006;Etayeb et al., 2007;Hamza et al., 2008;EGA-RAC/SPA, 2012). The main reason for the improvement is related to the number of covered sites in which the census is conducted, as it decreased significantly during the years 2013-2021, with a total of six sites in 2015, while in 2010, the number of covered sites reached 94 (EGA-RAC/SPA, 2012). ...
Background:
Libyan wetlands are diverse; the coastline of Libya, in particular, has different kinds of wetlands, such as salt marshes, bays, lakes, lagoons, and islands. These varieties in habitats provide good shelters and foraging sites for migratory birds during their journeys between Eurasia and Africa. Since the beginning of the Libyan winter census of waterbirds International waterbirds census (Libya IWC) in 2005, which continued regularly until 2012, it has had relatively the same performance in the number of covered sites. However, since 2013, due to the security situation that Libya has experienced due to wars and conflict, which negatively affected the quality of the IWC in Libya, the number of sites has dramatically decreased, reaching only six locations during the middle of the previous decade.
Aim:
The IWC 2022 aimed to count the birds along the Libyan coast from January 10 to 29.
Methods:
The census activities were conducted from dawn to dusk during the study period by using high-quality Telescopes, binoculars, and digital cameras for the documentation. Point transects method was used to cover the sites.
Results:
The results of this year showed that a total of 64 sites were covered, and 68 species of waterbirds were counted, with an abundance of 61,850 individuals. During the census period, a total of 52 non-waterbird species found in Wetlands were recorded, and the number of individuals was 14,836 birds. A total of 18 threatened species were observed during this survey, 12 of them are mentioned in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and nine species are mentioned in the regional activities center of specially protected areas annex II as threatened in the Mediterranean, where the species; Larus audouinii (Payraudeau, 1826), Larus genei (Breme, 1839), and Puffinus yelkouan (Acerbi, 1827) are mentioned in both of them.
Conclusion:
The lack of the number of ornithologists and bird watchers is still one of the factors affecting the quality of the IWC in Libya, as well as lack of funding remains an important factor that plays a major role in the success of the waterbirds census.
... of seabird on Libyan coast[53], (b) migrant birds feeding and nesting area at Misratah coast, the shapefile of resting area of the migrant birds was generated in the ArcMap as polygon accruing the survey of migratory birds and field work collected data ...
The goal of the Libyan Environmental General Authority (EGA) and National Oil Corporation (Department of Health, Safety & Environment) during the last 5 years has been to adopt a common approach to coastal and marine spatial planning. Protection and planning of the coastal zone is a significant for Libya, due to the length of coast and, the high rate of oil export, and spills’ potential negative impacts on coastal and marine habitats. Coastal resource scenarios constitute an important tool for exploring the long-term and short-term consequences of oil spill impact and available response options that would provide an integrated perspective on mitigation. To investigate that, this paper reviews the Misratah coastal parameters to present the physical and human controls and attributes of coastal habitats as the first step in understanding how they may be damaged by an oil spill. This paper also investigates costal resources, providing a better understanding of the resources and factors that impact the integrity of the ecosystem. Therefore, the study described the potential spatial distribution of oil spill risk and the coastal resources value, and also created spatial maps of coastal resources and their vulnerability to oil spills along the coast. This study proposes an analysis of coastal resources condition at a local level in the Misratah region of the Mediterranean Sea, considering the implementation of coastal and marine spatial planning over time as an indication of the will to manage urban development. Oil spill contamination analysis and their impact on the coastal resources depend on (1) oil spill sequence, (2) oil spill location, (3) oil spill movement near the coastal area. The resulting maps show natural, socio-economic activity, environmental resources along of the coast, and oil spill location. Moreover, the study provides significant geodatabase information which is required for coastal sensitivity index mapping and coastal management studies. The outcome of study provides the information necessary to set an Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) for the Misratah shoreline, which can be used for management of coastal resources and setting boundaries for each coastal sensitivity sectors, as well as to help planners measure the impact of oil spills on coastal resources. Geographic Information System (GIS) tools were used in order to store and illustrate the spatial convergence of existing socio-economic activities such as fishing, tourism, and the salt industry, and ecosystem components such as sea turtle nesting area, Sabkha habitats, and migratory birds feeding sites. These geodatabases help planners investigate the vulnerability of coastal resources to an oil spill.
... While avian biogeographical data for most North African countries are available, Libya in particular remains one of the least covered countries in terms of bird studies (Bundy 1976;Smart et al. 2006;Etayeb and Essghaier 2007;EGA-RAC/SPA-WCT 2012). The Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis emigratus has the smallest population size compared with the other two subspecies, T.b. bengalensis (Red Sea and East Africa) and T.b. torresi (Persian Gulf to South-east Asia and Australia). ...
The Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis emigratus breeding population in the Mediterranean is found exclusively in Libya, on the two coastal islands of Gara and Elba and one wetland on the mainland coast at Benghazi. In order to improve knowledge of the species migration to wintering quarters in West Africa, a ringing programme was conducted from 2006–2008 and 2009–2012. From a total of 1 354 nestlings ringed using metal and/or colour rings, 64 were recovered along their flyway and in their wintering range, representing 6.9% of birds ringed with both colour and metal rings. This provided the opportunity to collect information on post-natal movements (staging and wintering ranges), breeding philopatry and recruitment, in addition to a preliminary estimate of their migration journey duration. This paper indicates sighting and recovery distributions in space and time, highlighting the important areas for the species during its journey between breeding and wintering sites. The findings indicate that several areas where ringed terns stop-over during pre- and post-breeding migration journeys are not protected, causing an additional threat to their survival, as some wintering areas are also not protected. Conservation of this highly localised and threatened population needs not only to address protection at breeding sites but also at migratory stop-overs and wintering strongholds.
For Full Text, PLEASE EMAIL ME ON a.hamza@umt.edu.my
أجريت هذه الدراسة خلال الفترة من فبراير إلى يوليو 2020، وقد شملت ثلاث مواقع وهي: موقع قرقارش، موقع المدينة السياحية، موقع جنزور. حيث هدفت هذه الدراسة لحصر التنوع الحيوي للطيور التي ترتاد هذه الجزر الصغيرة بشواطئ مدينة طرابلس، ومقارنة تنوع وأعداد الطيور بين مواقع الدراسة، وتأثير مصادر الإزعاج عليها. كذلك لتسليط الضوء على الجزر الصغيرة بالشاطئ الممتد بين جنزور، وقرقارش بمدينة طرابلس الكبرى. وسجلت الدراسة بالمواقع الثلاثة 40 نوعا من أصل 16 عائلة. أما الأعداد في هذه المواقع كان أكبرها في موقع قرقارش، وأقلها في موقع جنزور أنواعا وأفرادا. وباستخدام مؤشر شانون للتنوع فإن موقع قرقارش كان الأكثر تنوعا وموقع جنزور الأقل تنوعا، ثم يليه موقع المدينة السياحية. كما سجلت هذه الدراسة مجموعة قراءات لحلقات بأرجل أربعة طيور والتي تدل على خط هجرتها وهي: ( Larus fascus (Linnaeus 1758 نورس أسود الظهر صغير، Larus audouinii (Payraudeau 1826) نورس أودن، Larus michahellis (Naumann 1840) نورس أصفر الساق. كما تم تسجيل 10 أنوع مهددة بالانقراض ورد ذكرهما في الملحق الثاني الصادر عن مركز الأنشطة الإقليمية للمناطق المتمتعة بحماية خاصة بمنطقة البحر المتوسط (UNEP, MAP, RAC/SPA)، ونوعين ورد ذكرها في القائمة الحمراء الصادرة عن الاتحاد الدولي لصون الطبيعة (IUCN/ Red list) ومن ضمن نتائج هذه الدراسة تم تسجيل ثلاثة أنواع نادرة في موقع قرقارش Larus ichthyaetus (Pallas 1773) نورس أسود الرأس الكبير، Larus marinus (Linnaeus 1758) نورس أسود الظهر الكبير، Larus argentatus (Pontopiddan 1763) نورس الرنجة الأوروبي؛ علما بأن الأخير قد سجل لأول مرة في ليبيا.
Birds are an ecological indicator that reflects changes in the environment, especially in the wetlands, which are considered as the most preferred habitats for migratory and resident birds, particularly for the aquatic species. This study aimed to classify the study area according to the standards of the Ramsar Convention for Wetlands, and to study the diversity of waterbirds in Al-Mallaha, as well as to investigate the impact of some environmental factors on these species. This study was conducted at Al-Mallaha, north east of Tripoli during the period from September 2020 to August 2021. A total of 3,984 individuals were recorded belonging to 45 species out of 12 families and six orders. The highest diversity of waterbirds was recorded during the fall season with a total of 37 species, and the highest abundance was recorded during winter (1095 individuals). Moreover, diversity indicators showed that the highest similarity was between the fall and winter seasons. However, 51.1% of the birds are winter migratory species, as they utilize this site as a roosting area during their migration. This study recorded seven species of waterbirds that are mentioned in Annex II issued by the Regional Activity Center for Specially Protected Areas RAC/SPA as endangered species, and five species mentioned in the IUCN-Red List. In term of ecological factors, the drought, decreasing in water depth and wind have significant impacts on the abundance and diversity of waterbirds
This study was conducted during the period from February to July 2020 on three
sites along Tripoli coast; Gargaresh, Siahiya and Janzour. This study aimed to
inventory the biodiversity of birds that utilize these small islands, compare the
diversity and numbers of birds among the sites, as well as to investigate the
impact of disturbance on them. Moreover, highlight the importance of small
islands on the beach between Janzour and Gargaresh along the coast of Tripoli.
This study recorded a total of 40 bird species belong to 16 families. The highest
number of birds was in Gargaresh islands, and the lowest was in the Janzour site,
both in terms of species and individuals. By using Shannon's diversity index,
Gargaresh site was the most diverse and the Janzour site was the lowest. This
study also recorded some tags (rings) on the legs of birds, which indicate their
migratory line and the curriculum vitae of each bird, these species are: lesser
black-backed gull Larus fascus (Linnaeus 1758), Audouin's gull Larus audouinii (Payraudeau 1826) and Yellow-legged gull Larus michahellis (Naumann 1840).
Furthermore, a total of 10 endangered species that mentioned in Annex II issued
by the Regional Activity Center for Specially Protected Areas in the
Mediterranean (UNEP, MAP, RAC/SPA) were recorded, and two species
mentioned in the Red List issued by the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN/ Red) list). Among the results of this study, three rare species were
recorded at the Gargaresh site: Pallas's gull Larus ichthyaetus (Pallas 1773), Great
black-back gull Larus marinus (Linnaeus 1758), and a first record of European
herring gull Larus argentatus (Pontopiddan 1763) in Libya.
The present survey was organized under a Memorandum of Understanding between AEWA,
RAC/SPA (the Regional Activities Centre on Specially Protected Areas of the UNEP
Mediterranean Action Programme, based in Tunis), and the EGA (Environment General
Authority of Libya).
The Action Plan for the conservation of bird species listed in Annex II of the Protocol
concerning specially protected areas and biological diversity in the Mediterranean
The UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) brings together 21 countries round the
Mediterranean, operating within the framework of the Barcelona Convention for the
Protection of the marine environment and the coastal region of the Mediterranean. They
adopted in 1995 a “Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity
in the Mediterranean” which includes in its Annex II a “List of Endangered or Threatened
Species”. This List includes fifteen species of bird, and at the latest Conference of the Parties
in Catania, Sicily in November 2003, an Action Plan for the conservation of these species
was adopted, following similar plans on monk seal, marine turtles, cetaceans and marine
vegetation. The Action Plan for Birds notes initiatives taken by bodies such as BirdLife
International partners in Mediterranean countries, WWF, IUCN, Medmaravis and Tour du
Valat, which contributed to the development of the text. The fifteen birds include a variety
of species of differing status, some globally endangered, some whose breeding area is
concentrated on rocky Mediterranean islands, some found mostly in beaches and coastal
lagoons, as follows: Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea, Mediterranean Shearwater
Puffinus yelkouan, Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus, European Shag Phalacrocorax
aristotelis, Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, White Pelican Pelecanus
onocrotalus, Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber,
Osprey Pandion haliaetus, Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae, Slender-billed Curlew
Numenius tenuirostris, Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii, Lesser Crested Tern Sterna
bengalensis, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis and Little Tern Sterna albifrons.
Ecology of freshwater gastropods of Taourgha Spring and its channels
- A Hamza
Hamza, A. 2004. Ecology of freshwater gastropods of Taourgha Spring and its channels. M.Sc. Th esis, Faculty of Sciences,
University of Al-Fateh, Tripoli, Libya.
Inventaire préliminaire des zones humides côtières de Libye
- P Defos Du Rau
- M F A Essghaier
- K S Etayeb
Defos du Rau, P., Essghaier, M.F.A. &
Etayeb, K.S. 2003. Inventaire préliminaire des zones humides côtières de Libye. Faune Sauvage 259: 12-15.
Beiträge zur Vogelwelt Libyens, III: Accipitridae bis Charadriidae
- S Brehme
- W Th Iede
- E Borges
Brehme, S., Th iede, W. & Borges, E. 2002b.
Beiträge zur Vogelwelt Libyens, III: Accipitridae bis Charadriidae. Ornithologische Mitteilungen 54: 391-399.
Study of migratory and resident birds in Ras-Attalgha and western part of Farwa Island
- K S Etayeb
Etayeb, K.S. 2002. Study of migratory and
resident birds in Ras-Attalgha and western part of Farwa Island. M.Sc. Th esis,
Zoology Department, University of Alfateh, Tripoli, Libya.