Despite years of political and environmental challenges, efforts to conserve biodiversity in Libya have continued. At the heart of this effort is the long-standing tradition of waterbird monitoring – an essential activity across the country’s wetlands, which include several salt lakes and coastal lagoons. A handful of dedicated Libyan ornithologists have carried on the vital work of counting migratory waterbird species, often with limited resources. Yet thanks to a powerful combination of individual dedication, collaboration, and new cutting-edge optical equipment, waterbird monitoring in Libya has continued despite these challenges.
Libya’s wetlands provide important waterbird habitats along the African-Eurasian Flyways. Every year, hundreds of thousands of migratory waterbirds stopover in Libya to rest and feed during their journeys between Europe and Africa or remain to overwinter. Some of these birds also breed in Libya, taking advantage of the country’s rich wetland habitats. These sites support a remarkable diversity of waterbird species that are listed under the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), an international treaty administered by the UN that brings countries together to conserve migratory waterbirds across Africa and Eurasia. Some of these waterbird species that occur in Libya include the Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), Lesser Crested Tern (Sterna begalensis), and the elegant Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus). Key sites in Libya such as Gara Island and Ain Al Ghazala offer important refuge for waterbirds during critical stages of their life cycle, making Libya a vital country along the African-Eurasian Flyways. Gara Island, located in the Gulf of Bomba, is one of the most significant coastal sites for wintering species such as the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), and various gulls and terns.
Ain Al Ghazala, a coastal lagoon complex in northeastern Libya, supports large numbers of migratory waders and herons during both spring and autumn migration and provides year-round habitat for breeding species such as the Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) and Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus). These wetlands serve not only as stopover and wintering sites but also as breeding grounds for several waterbird species, underscoring their importance for regional and flyway-scale conservation efforts.
One of the central figures in Libya’s bird conservation community is Mr. Khaled Etayeb, the Libyan National Coordinator for the International Waterbird Census (IWC) and Head of the Libyan Society for Birds. He also serves as Libya’s focal point for the Mediterranean Waterbird Network, helping to link local efforts with international conservation goals.
Under the AEWA framework, working in close collaboration with Wetlands International and other regional stakeholders, Mr. Etayeb leads nationwide efforts to conduct the annual waterbird census, raise awareness, and build local capacity. Thanks to a partnership between AEWA and Leica Camera AG, Mr Etayeb has now been equipped with state-of-the-art Leica Trinovid binoculars.
“Any optical equipment available will be helpful for conducting waterbird monitoring and for training counters, but modern and refined optics help bring this work to the next level,” says Mr Etayeb. “Leica binoculars are elevating the quality of our monitoring work, allowing experts to observe birds with exceptional clarity and precision. New equipment also gives us the opportunity to have more people experience birds and eventually join our organisation, which has a positive impact on the conservation of waterbirds in our country,” says Etayeb.
For years, local conservationists in Libya have been working with outdated and limited optics, making accurate filed identification and data collection a challenge. More than just improving survey accuracy, this upgrade through the Leica binoculars is inspiring the next generation of birdwatchers in Libya.
“The availability of equipment is essential for learning bird watching,” says Mr. Etayeb. “When the materials are available, the number of participants can be increased. The equipment becomes a motivating and encouraging factor for those using it to count the birds,” concludes Etayeb.
With continued international support, including through initiatives such as those being made possible through the cooperation between Leica and AEWA, Liyba’s waterbird monitoring and conservation capacity will continue to gain momentum. The combination of dedicated individuals and professional optical equipment is already making a tangible difference and will hopefully lead to more people getting involved in the conservation and monitoring of waterbirds in Libya in the years to come.