Lebanon and the International Waterbird Census

A vital survey

Censusing birds at Aammiq

As an international conservation organization, A Rocha is involved in a number of global environmental initiatives. One of the most interesting of these is the yearly International Waterbird Census (IWC) organised by Wetlands International http://www.wetlands.org, the leading global organisation working with wetlands. This census, which has taken place every January since 1967, occurs across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Southwest Asia and is vital in providing accurate national, regional and increasingly even global estimates on waterbird numbers. In most years, around 20 million waterbirds of 175 species are counted. For four years running, A Rocha Lebanon has coordinated and run all of the counting efforts within Lebanon for the IWC.

Wetlands International sees the aims of the IWC as

Providing the basis for estimates of waterbird populations.
Improving knowledge of little-known waterbird species and wetland sites.
Monitoring changes in waterbird numbers and distribution by regular, standardised counts of representative wetlands.
Identifying and monitoring sites that qualify as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Providing information on the conservation status of waterbird species.
Increasing awareness of the importance of waterbirds and their wetland habitats at local, national and international levels.

The value of this census data lies in the way that it provides factual evidence on bird numbers. From it, global patterns can be seen and general trends identified. Some of these trends are, unsurprisingly, worrying; for instance the way that the majority of dabbling ducks, diving ducks, and Coot Fulica atra populations are declining in the East Mediterranean areas.

The practicalities

January is chosen because it is a time when water birds tend to congregate and do not move very much between water bodies. Because there is a shortage of trained birdwatchers in Lebanon the national count is carried out throughout January rather than on the ideal of a single designated weekend. The counts in Lebanon are done on foot on routes that are standardised for each site. All waterbirds observed are recorded and every effort is made to avoid double counting.

In the four years of counting a total of seven sites have been visited at least once and the results of all these counts written up in a series of reports for Wetlands International. During these visits nearly ten thousand waterbirds and thirty five species have been counted.

Of the seven wetland sites in Lebanon, three - Lake Qaraoun, Cheik Zennad and Aammiq - are particularly significant. Each regularly holds large numbers of waterbirds, and is extremely important nationally in terms of waterbird populations. Currently, two of the sites, Lake Qaraoun and Cheik Zennad, have no protection status and are under severe threat.

Lake Qaraoun with Mount Hermon in the background

Lake Qaraoun, an eleven square kilometre man-made reservoir in the southern Bekaa is by far the largest freshwater body of water in Lebanon. Thousands of ducks and other waterbirds visit or over-winter at this site; populations of over a thousand Shoveler Anas clypeata, Gadwall Anas strepera and Common Teal Anas crecca have been recorded. Hunting, however, is a serious threat and boat or shore-based hunters regularly harass birds. A less visible but no less troubling threat is that of pollution. On a recent visit to the lake, eleven Grey Herons Ardea cinerea, three Great Egrets Egretta alba and two White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus were found along the shore; all were either dead or were seriously ill, apparently from poisoning. The site should continue to be monitored for evidence of more sick or dead birds and it is vital that the future protection of this lake is ensured for the sake of waterbirds in Lebanon.

Cheik Zennad is an abandoned area of saltpans north of the city of Tripoli and about a half kilometre inland from the Mediterranean. In winter wading birds often move inland from the shoreline to feed on the extensive mudflats around the saltpans. Cheik Zennad has the potential to be the premier site in Lebanon for waders and other waterbirds but the area is split by a small farm road which provides easy access for hunters. Hundreds of cartridges can be found throughout the area. The importance of this site for waterbirds should not be overlooked and every effort should be made to ensure its future protection.

Aammiq in the south central Bekaa is where A Rocha Lebanon's work is focused. This area of often temporary wetland has large numbers of overwintering Coot, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos and Shoveler. The numbers of Lapwing Vanellus vanellus can exceed a thousand and as the Lapwing is a species in significant global decline this is notable. Although Aammiq is legally protected some degree of shooting still occurs.

The value of figures

Census figures, whether of human beings or any other species, may not seem interesting. Yet by being "hard facts" they have a great deal of power. These Lebanese figures play their part nationally and internationally. Nationally, they have highlighted the key wetlands of Lebanon for overwintering birds and have shown the necessity of conservation legislation being created and enforced for these key areas. Internationally, they play their part in building up the big - and often alarming - picture of how wildlife is faring on this planet.

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Further details on the Lebanon IWC work can be obtained from lebanon@arocha.org.