WHY FLAMINGOS FLOCK TO ABU DHABI WHEN THEY WANT TO BREED
We knew the UAE was a preferred destination for the birds when they want to escape the harsh weather of central Asia. But a new study has revealed just how important their winter break is, writes Roberta Pennington
Thousands of greater flamingos travel to the UAE each year to escape the brutal winters of central Asia. But when it comes to raising their chicks, only one emirate will do – Abu Dhabi.
The capital is home to three main protected areas that not only attract the largest population of the migratory birds in the country each winter, but also serve as the species’ preferred breeding sites when they visit the Emirates, according to a report by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi published in Zoology in the Middle East.
The three habitats – Bul Syayeef Marine Protected Area, Al Wathba Wetland Reserve and Shahama Wetland – are frequented by a combined average of about 8,557 greater flamingos each month.
In all, the Emirates offer 36 key habitat areas that draw between 15,000 and 20,000 greater flamingos each winter.
Bul Syayeef, located among the islands off the coast of Abu Dhabi, holds the largest population – about 6,500 flamingos on average any given month. But it is at the inland wetland in Al Wathba where breeding has been most frequently successful, even though these birds are not typically known to regularly breed outside their homes in central Asia – Khazakstan, Iran and Turkey.
Dr Salim Javed, EAD’s acting director of terrestrial biodiversity, credits the emirate’s conservation efforts for fostering the ideal environment for the animals to reproduce.
“If the conditions are optimum and suitable they can breed,” Dr Javed said.
“One of the prerequisites is they need to have a place that is safe from predators. That is what we have done in Al Wathba.
“All the predator control measures we need to take are in place, and as a result we have seen flamingos breed.”
The wetland is surrounded by a high fence to keep out foxes, dogs and cats. Recently, the water surrounding one of the islands on the site was dredged to add depth to offer more safety to the birds.
Human activity is also kept to a minimum. The reserve is closed to the public during the summer and open to visitors only twice a week in the winter, beginning in October.
Eight of the 10 occasions that the flamingos successfully reproduced in Abu Dhabi between 1993 and 2015 were in Al Wathba.
Of the 1,972 chicks that hatched during that period, 821 did so in the Al Wathba Wetland, 801 in Bul Syayeef and 350 in Shahama Wetland.
“Flamingos are not only fascinating birds to watch, but are also central to Abu Dhabi’s effort to protect its important species and habitat. It’s also a legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed, who was instrumental in the establishment of Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, the first protected area in the emirate,” said Dr Shaikha Al Dhaheri, executive director of the terrestrial and marine biodiversity sector at EAD.
“We are proud to have the only breeding site of the species in the UAE. This has been possible because of the effective management of the species and its habitat, and we will do everything to ensure that they continue to breed at Al Wathba.”
The Al Wathba habitat, located about 40 kilometres east of the capital, formed accidentally as a byproduct of a neighbouring water treatment plant. As the water was released into the area, it accumulated into a small lake that began to attract wildlife, including the brine shrimp craved by greater flamingos, said Dr Javed.
“The reserve is a microcosm of different habitats,” Dr Javed said. “It’s got a gravel area, there are reeds there, there are slight sand dunes, deep water, shallow water. There are some areas where you have fresh water mixing with the underground water.
“So there are all kinds of water gradients out there, which provide wonderful opportunities for a whole range of species to come and stay here either temporarily or on a permanent basis.”
In 1993, the first four flamingo chicks fledged in the wetland, bringing attention to the area’s positive environmental impact. “Basically that was the catalyst in raising the profile of this site,” Dr Javed said, noting that Sheikh Zayed immediately recognised the area’s potential and by 1998 had it designated as a nature reserve with full protection status.
The relationship between the flamingos and the Al Wathba Wetlands has clearly been a mutually beneficial one.
While the birds helped the area gain environmental protection status, the wetland has, in turn, become a second home to the migratory birds.
“Breeding has been consistent and regularly successful at AWWR from 2010 to 2015,” according to the report.
“It is one of the few places in the world where regular breeding, even for short periods, has been recorded.”
This summer, a record 448 chicks hatched at Al Wathba.
“It is the biggest breeding for Al Wathba Wetland since we began to record breeding on a regular basis in 1993,” Dr Javed said.
All the predator control measures are in place and as a result we have seen our flamingos breed DR SALIM JAVED EAD’s acting director of terrestrial biodiversity