Greater Flamingo returns after 10 years absence

The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) revealed that the Greater flamingo has once again started breeding in Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi. The findings were confirmed by an EAD team of scientists in what is considered the first occurrence of successful breeding on this site in almost a decade.

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve was established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1998 and is currently managed by EAD. At present, nearly 1,600 Greater flamingos are present in Al Wathba and a high percentage of these are adult breeding birds. As part of routine monitoring undertaken by EAD's Bird Conservation team, nests were recorded at several locations across Al Wathba Lake and 90 chicks are currently incubating (being maintained by their mothers at optimal environmental conditions for growth and development). EAD expects more chicks to hatch in the coming weeks.

"The breeding by flamingos in this Reserve is further evidence that protecting such areas is crucial in the preservation of our biodiversity. The return of the breeding colony is a major milestone for the Agency's flamingo conservation efforts and the management of the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve," said H.E Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, EAD's Secretary General.

She continues: "Our tracking programme allows us to observe their migration patterns and enables us to see what is needed to support a healthy habitat for these important birds." Currently, EAD is tracking a total of six flamingos tagged between 2005 to 2010, with the latest flamingo - Yasmeena - having successfully been tagged in late December 2010 in Al Wathba. Reports have confirmed that Yasmeena is currently spending time in Ras Al Khor in Dubai.

"Through EAD's extensive bird tracking programme, valuable data has been collected over the last six years. Our monitoring of flamingos has helped us understand the trend in numbers and discover new information such as the flamingo breeding colony discovered in Bul Syayeef in 2009 and the one at Al Wathba last month," said Dr. Salim Javed, Head of the Bird Conservation Programme and Manager, Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring at EAD.

The Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterusroseus) is a species with a broad distribution range from the western Mediterranean Basin to Sri Lanka in the north, and South Africa in the south. It is the most common visitor to the UAE and can be observed all year round in lagoons, fresh and salt waters of artificial wetlands, even close to human settlements or activities, such as highways, suburbs, industrial areas, salt pans, and sewage ponds. The Greater flamingo is a flagship species for conservation in the UAE and has successfully bred at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Shahama and Bul Syayeef, all in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Bu Tinah Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi, is also home to hundreds of flamingos. The Island has been shortlisted as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, along with such well-known natural icons such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands. Home to the world's healthiest population of dugongs - dolphin - like �sea cows' that graze on sea grass - as well as coral reefs, shore crabs and Ospreys, Bu Tinah is the only finalist from the Arabian Gulf region and is quickly becoming a source of pride throughout the Gulf. To vote for Bu Tinah, people can SMS the word �BuTinah' to 3888, as many times as they wish.

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