Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Lebna is the largest and probably the most important of the artificial reservoirs of the northern Cap Bon peninsula, with the most extensive vegetation along the two streams which flow into it and which are dammed; there are extensive stands of
Phragmites communis,
Typha angustifolia and
Juncus spp., which provide nesting habitat and cover for many waterbirds.
See Box for key species. Regular breeding species include
Oxyura leucocephala (20–50 birds also winter) and
Marmaronetta angustirostris (50–100 birds winter), as well as
Porphyrio porphyrio, together with species such as
Tachybaptus ruficollis,
Podiceps cristatus and
Fulica atra. Elaneus caeruleus breeds in the vicinity. Being situated near the tip of Cap Bon, Lebna, to some extent, replaces the drained former marsh of Garaet el Haouaria, and attracts a good number and variety of passage waterbirds, including species such as
Plegadis falcinellus,
Platalea leucorodia, storks, waders and terns. Several hundred
Aythya nyroca regularly occur as post-breeding migrants. Wintering waterbirds include
Anas platyrhynchos,
A. acuta,
A. penelope,
A. clypeata,
A. strepera,
Aythya fuligula,
A. ferina and
Fulica atra, with total numbers of up to 20,000.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Threats include human disturbance and hunting.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barrage Lebna (Tunisia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/barrage-lebna-iba-tunisia on 23/11/2024.
