Lake Qaraoun, a potential Important Bird Area in Lebanon - A Rocha

A Rocha Lebanon for the Environment
Dear Friends,
We hope you enjoy reading about our latest news.
Friends of A Rocha Lebanon Newsletter number 10, June 06
arocha@cyberia.net.lb
5 new Important Bird Areas (IBAs) declared in Lebanon!!!
We are delighted to announce that 4 of the sites surveyed in 2005 by A Rocha, plus a
fifth location researched by our IBA search partner SPNL, have been awarded IBA status
by Birdlife International regional office in Amman. This increases the number of IBAs in
Lebanon from 4 to 9 sites. The new IBAs are at Ebel es Saqi, Tannourine Cedars,
Aanjar/Kfar Zabad, Riim/Sannine and Lake Qaraaoun.
Each site is a special place for birds and other wildlife, after all our visits in 2005, gathering
data and observing birds, the next step in the process is to support already existing
conservation measures and to develop new community conservation initiatives. It is hoped that
people, as well as the wildlife will, in time, benefit from
IBA recognition, indeed at Ebel es Saqi, Tannourine
and Kfar Zabad, bed and breakfast accommodation is
already available in local villages for the visiting nature
lover, providing new sources of income through the
beginnings of eco-tourism.
We are surveying 6 other potential sites this year, our
autumn visits will be between 25 September and
October 6. If you would like to help us look for birds in
interesting places in this period, please e-mail
richwprior@hotmail.com
A White-throated Robin at Tannourine Cedars, a new IBA in Lebanon
Meet Isabel our new volunteer…
I have come to join the A Rocha Lebanon team for three months,
to do a student placement in Landscape Design. I have just
completed two placements in Brisbane and Sydney, and am
completing my final placement here in Lebanon with A Rocha,
before returning to the UK to pursue further study. I
will be assisting in the proposals for a new Tourist Centre
and Eco-lodge facility. I will be using my degree to collaborate
with the team to combine both their ideas and expertise in
various fields to produce a concept design suitable for the
project. Having been here for three weeks already, I am
thoroughly enjoying the experience, as I have participated in many
new activities and encountered many fascinating (and often
confusing!) cultural experiences. It is a privilege to be working with an organization that
cares for the environment and sees value in the Earth God created.

Another Small Wetland in the Bekaa
Although Aammiq Marsh is the largest remaining area of natural wetland in the Bekaa, there are
several places which hold small wetlands, or sometimes just large reedy ponds, which, in spite of
their small size, still have value for wildlife. One of these can be found about 5km north of
Aammiq.
On visiting the site the A Rocha team found a lovely
area of small hillocks, temporary pools, and short,
heavily grazed, grassland. As well as three common
species of amphibians (Tree Frog, Marsh Frog and
Green Toad), the team found a fourth, much rarer
species, the Eastern Spadefoot Toad, which had
only ever been found at one other site in Lebanon.
Another exciting find was the beautiful, little plant
called Starfruit (not to be confused with the tropical
fruit of the same name). Although this had never
been seen in Lebanon before, it was found growing
here in abundance.
As well as frogs, toads and flowers, this little wetland is one of the best places locally for wading
birds to rest and feed during their northward migration in Spring.
The landowners were very pleased to hear that their property was the home for some rare
species, and agreed to set aside the best part of it, about 2 hectares, for wildlife.
Already in 2006 A Rocha Lebanon staff have seen 65 species of bird, including sandpipers,
storks and a pelican, at the wetland and the frogs and flowers are flourishing.
Opportunities
We are looking for 2 or possibly 3 new members of the A Rocha Lebanon team; Education
Officer and Warden of the A Rocha Lebanon Field Studies Centre in the West Bekaa and a
Scientific Officer. If you are in sympathy with A Rocha Lebanon’s aims and would like to find
out more about what is involved and a job description write to Chris Naylor at
arocha@cyberia.net.lb
BUTTERFLIES
KIDS ZONE
Now the summer is here you should start to see more butterflies flying about.They are actually INSECTS
and have four stages to their lives, EGG, caterpillar, chrysalis and ADULT.
The caterpillars are a nice meal for a BIRD, so they have different ways to protect themselves, some by
CAMOUFLAGE, some by being POISONOUS and others by spinning a SILK web around them. The
CATERPILLAR feeds on leaves and sheds its skin 5 times, the last time it becomes a CHRYSALIS from
which the adult BUTTERFLY emerges. Instead of eating plant material, the butterflies feeds on nectar in
flowers through their long tongue, called the PROBOSCIS.
A butterfly has two pairs of WINGS which are covered in tiny SCALES which give it its COLOR and
pattern, some act like little MIRRORS reflecting light waves. Although they are very small and weigh

hardly anything, butterflies can MIGRATE thousands of kilometers, bringing summer color to colder
countries in EUROPE.
BUTTERFLY WORDSEARCH
The words you need to find are written in the article above
HINT: words are written in capital letters; you can find them in all
directions, right and left, up and down, vertical and horizontal.
L H V V T U G N G G E U V X L
K D G N Y E G A L F U O M A C
C J B I R D A K V J R E J G O
D A U M U D P O I S O N O U S
H S T A X S S H K G P F S E U
S F T E S A R N O S E L A C S
T P E R R J E O A E V C Y O I
C A R T P P Q X R C O Y L G L
E W F O G D I U S R O P E N A
S I L K B F R L P T I N S D S
N S Y G L O A H L Q O M S J Y
I D N I R I S U M A C O L O R
A S F F Y L D C R W R O P X H
R S G E T A R G I M O D M H C
W S F P K I A D A S G N I W O
Thanks for reading our newsletter to the end. Don’t forget our website: www.arocha.org as we
have completely updated our pages, and if you have any questions or need more information
please write to us on: foarl.arocha@cyberia.net.lb
Best wishes, The A Rocha Lebanon team
Lebanon A Rocha news available in 3 languages!!!
If you are reading this newsletter in English but would prefer to have it in Arabic or
French email us and we will send you your preferred version.
Together, caring for God’s creation