The shallow bays and coastal lagoons north and west of the archaeological site draw flamingos and other wading birds, particularly in winter. The mangrove-fringed inlets along the northwest coast are among the few places in Qatar where you can reliably spot pink flamingos standing in the shallows. Traditional wooden dhows are still moored in the northern bays, a visible link to the same maritime economy that once made Zubarah wealthy. The atmosphere of emptiness — abandoned fishing villages, still water, flat desert — is striking.