Winged visitors flock to the UAE
It’s the time of the year again when migratory birds fly hundreds and thousands of kilometres to the UAE from across the world to find a suitable habitat to feed, breed and raise their young.
Various species of small and big-sized birds come here, such as seagulls, plovers, sandpipers, ducks, teals, godwits, cormorants, larks, ruffs, snipes and different types of gulls. And it’s always a sight to behold for residents and tourists alike: The avian travellers spreading their wings and finding refuge at the historic Dubai Creek to the wide expanse of Ras Al Khor Wildlife sanctuary in Dubai to the Gold Souq, Buheira Corniche and Al Qasba in Sharjah, the Ajman Corniche to Khor Lake in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah beach.
The UAE, which is part of the Palaearctic-Asian flyway, has long been a preferred destination for these winged travellers because of its abundant marine food sources, lagoons and mudflats. The country is blessed with milder coastal climates in winter and its inland waterways and mangroves, and salt marshes are important layovers for birds fleeing the icy regions.
Sometimes, we are left in awe at how the migratory birds find their flyways. According to experts, birds use “to orientate by the sun during the day, by the stars at night, and by the geomagnetic field at any time. Some species can even detect polarised light, which many migrating birds may use for navigation at night.”
But as much as we enjoy feeding or taking photos of them at the parks, we should also be reminded that we have a duty to protect them. Migratory birds need protection. They endure a perilous journey which involves a wide range of threats, some caused by human activities.
Most of us UAE residents can actually relate to these birds. Because like them, we are also migrants in this beautiful country. Therefore, we all have the responsibility to be good stewards of our environment. Just by ensuring that bird sanctuaries are devoid of rubbish, we are already doing our part in protecting them. We make it possible for them to fly for hundreds and thousands kilometres more — freely and safely. angel@khaleejtimes.com