Guardians of the Coast: Lebanon’s Seabirds in Peril and Hope

Photo: Tom Benson/Flickr (CC BY NC ND 2.0).

On a calm spring morning off the coast of Tripoli, the waves crash gently against three flat, rocky islands—Palm, Ramkin, and Sanani. To the untrained eye, these are just specks of limestone in the Mediterranean. But for ornithologists and conservationists, the Palm Islands Nature Reserve is a living archive of Lebanon’s seabird heritage. Once known as the “Bird Islands,” they were home to colonies of terns and gulls. Today, only scattered visitors remain, ghosts of a time when the air was alive with the cries of thousands of seabirds.

This story of decline, however, is not only about loss. It is also about resilience, community stewardship, and the urgent need to protect the delicate balance of Lebanon’s coastal ecosystems.

Lebanon: A Flyway Bottleneck

Lebanon is more than just a narrow strip of land on the eastern Mediterranean. It is a crucial crossroads for migratory birds traveling between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Twice a year, the skies above the country transform into a living highway of wings. White Storks, pelicans, and raptors ride thermal currents over the Bekaa Valley and Mount Lebanon, while seabirds trace the coastline in vast, shimmering flocks.

Seabirds, from gulls to shearwaters, play a particularly vital role in this migration system. Their journeys are perilous, dictated by weather, food availability, and human disturbance. Research shows that although their numbers may seem abundant during migration, these flocks often represent the only global populations of certain species. A single bottleneck can therefore determine the fate of an entire species.

Palm Islands: Echoes of a Lost Colony

Palm Islands Nature Reserve, Lebanon’s only significant offshore island habitat, is emblematic of seabird decline. Historical records describe colonies of Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii), Lesser Crested Tern (Sterna bengalensis), and Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) nesting here at the turn of the 20th century. By the 1970s, most had vanished. Today, only the Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) may still breed sporadically.

What happened? Disturbance from tourism, overfishing, solid waste pollution, and illegal hunting combined to erode the fragile balance of island life. Seabirds abandoned their nesting sites, their eggs once collected for food, their young preyed upon or disturbed.

Yet Palm Islands still hold hope. Nine bird species, including the Graceful Warbler and White Wagtail, continue to nest here. Wintering herons, cormorants, and migratory flocks still use the islands as a vital stopover. Conservation measures—legal protection, controlled visitor access, and a management plan—have stabilized the reserve. In 2012, Palm Islands were listed as a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI), marking international recognition of their ecological value.

Beyond Palm: Wetlands, Coasts, and Seabird Havens

Lebanon’s seabird story is not confined to Palm Islands. The country’s wetlands and coastal habitats provide crucial feeding and resting grounds. The Aammiq Wetland in the Bekaa, for example, attracts more than 256 bird species, including globally threatened waterbirds like the Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) and Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus). During migration, more than 20,000 soaring birds pass overhead, while waders and gulls forage in its flooded fields.

Meanwhile, stretches of sandy coastline, such as those near Tyre, provide roosting grounds for terns and gulls, though they are increasingly under pressure from unregulated tourism and construction. These habitats are not just bird sanctuaries—they are nurseries for marine life, buffers against climate change, and living classrooms for environmental education.

Threats on All Fronts

Despite Lebanon’s richness, seabirds face mounting threats:

• Pollution: Oil spills, plastic debris, and sewage runoff are chronic problems, especially around Palm Islands. Marine currents deposit garbage onto the islands, much of it from distant shores.

• Overfishing and dynamite fishing: Depleting fish stocks rob seabirds of food. Illegal fishing practices, including dynamite use, further devastate marine ecosystems.

• Disturbance: Tourism, if unmanaged, disrupts breeding and roosting. Even seasonal visitation during July–September at Palm Islands risks stressing sensitive species.

• Hunting: Though banned, illegal hunting persists along the coast and wetlands, targeting both resident and migratory birds.

• Climate change: Rising seas, shifting fish distributions, and stronger storms threaten the very habitats seabirds depend on.

The Human Element: Hima and Community Revival

Conservation in Lebanon is not just about laws and reserves. It is about people. The revival of the ancient Hima system—community-managed protected areas championed by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL)—offers a beacon of hope. Villages like Ebel es-Saqi and Aanjar/Kfar Zabad have embraced the Hima approach, protecting wetlands and river valleys that benefit both birds and people.

By involving local fishermen, farmers, and municipalities, the Hima approach fosters stewardship. It shows that protecting seabirds is not an abstract ideal but a practical way to sustain livelihoods, preserve cultural heritage, and secure ecosystem services.

A Call to Action

Seabirds are more than winged silhouettes against the horizon. They are indicators of ocean health, sentinels of change, and carriers of cultural meaning. Their cries have echoed over Lebanon’s coasts for centuries, woven into folklore and memory.

The “State of Lebanon’s Birds & IBAs” report is clear: without urgent action, many of these voices may fall silent. But action is possible. Conservationists call for:

• Strengthening enforcement of hunting and fishing bans.

• Expanding marine protected areas and ensuring proper management.

• Tackling pollution at its source through regional cooperation.

• Supporting community-led Hima initiatives along the coast.

• Raising awareness among youth and the public about seabirds’ ecological role.

Flight into the Future

As dusk falls over Palm Island, a lone Grey Heron rises into the sky, wings spread wide, heading south. Its silhouette is a reminder that seabirds do not recognize borders, politics, or divisions. Their survival depends on cooperation that transcends human boundaries.

Lebanon, perched on one of the world’s great migratory flyways, holds both a burden and an opportunity. By protecting its seabirds and their habitats, the country safeguards not only biodiversity but also its identity as a bridge between continents, cultures, and species.

The seabirds’ story is our story: fragile, resilient, and worth fighting for.