Flamingo Breeding Colony Found in Bu Al Siaief
A new breeding colony of the Greater Flamingo was recently discovered by a team of biologists from the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi (EAD) which may be one of the largest successful nesting areas in the Arabian Peninsula.
The colony was discovered within the ‘Bu Al Siaief’ Marine Protected Area, during a routine monitoring survey of the coastal areas west of the Abu Dhabi emirate.
EAD regularly monitors important sites and key species to identify priorities for the protection of species and important areas in the emirate.
“The discovery of this successful breeding colony is significant because flamingos have only bred twice in the UAE. The first time was almost a decade ago at Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba Wetland Reserve and the second time in Shahama,” said Majid Al Mansouri, EAD’s Secretary General.
Al Mansouri said that the discovery demonstrated the importance of the area and the urgency with which such areas need to be protected as rapid development engulfs the coastal areas of Abu Dhabi, particularly in the coastal area of Musaffah.
“Our biologists counted 224 active nests on a sandbar located within the Bu Al Siaief Marine Protected Area. Altogether, they counted 1,954 nests at two sites in the new breeding colony for the flamingo including currently active nest,” Al Mansouri said.
“Many of the nests were already used while the majority of them were abandoned after damage in a storm. We also recorded more than 18,000 flamingos in the inter-tidal areas between Musaffah and Bu Al Siaief Musaffah, the biggest numbers of flamingos recorded to date.
“The fact that there were more than 800 chicks in the colony makes this the biggest successful nesting in the UAE and possibly in the entire Arabian Peninsula,” Al Mansouri said… SOURCE
Sphere: Related Content
