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NATURE
General information
Natural Emirates
Key animals
Captive breeding
of rare breeds
Watching whales and
dolphins in the UAE
Scorpions and snakes
The coasts
Desert
The Mountains
Ornithological importance
of UAE
Environmental agencies
Fossil hunting
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Ornithological Importance of UAE
At any one time during migration periods (July–November
and April–May) probably in excess of 250,000 waders are present on
intertidal areas of the country's Gulf coast. Taking into account the
likely turnover of shorebirds on this Eurasian/West Asian–Arabian
Gulf–African flyway, the mudflats of the southern Gulf probably support
several million individuals over the course of a year. The current UAE
population of Socotra cormorants is around 200,000, which is about 15-33
per cent of the estimated total world population. Individual sites are
regionally important for wader species, namely Abu al-Abyadh for its crab
plover (Dromas ardeola) colony and migratory populations of lesser sand
plover (Charadrius mongolus), Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) and grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Khor Dubai for its high densities
of Kentish plover, greater sand plover (Charadrius leschenaultii), lesser
sand plover and broad-billed sandpiper (Limicola falcinellus) and Khor
al-Beidah for its large wintering population of crab plover and parties
of up to 90 wintering great knot (Calidris tenuirostris). The summer population
of crab plover is estimated at over 1200 shared between Abu al-Abyadh
and another colony on the island of Umm Amim, while the largest wintering
population of over 500 birds is at Khor al-Beidah.
Several islands hold important seabird populations and all are (or were)
important in some way. Siniyah, Yasat and Ghaghah Islands hold large Socotra
cormorant populations; Qarnayn Island alone has breeding red-billed tropicbird
(Phaethon aethereus), sooty gull and several tern species and other islands
in the south-west hold exceptional numbers of white-cheeked, lesser crested
(Sterna bengalensis) and bridled tern (Sterna anaethetus). The UAE holds
the Gulf's largest breeding population of sooty falcon (Falco concolor), a strongly migratory species the bulk of which winters in Madagascar.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) has practically disappeared from its former
mainland nest sites, now confined almost exclusively to islands, where
its numbers appear healthy.
In the Hajar Mountains Hume's wheatear and yellow-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus
xanthopygos) are common residents, with eastern pied wheatear (Oenanthe
picata), red-tailed wheatear (Oenanthe xanthoprymna) and plain leaf warbler
widely distributed in winter. The mangrove-lined creek at Khor Kalba holds
the country's only population of white-collared kingfisher (Halcyon chloris), of the endemic subspecies (kalbaensis). This subspecies is endangered,
with a population of only 44 pairs remaining at the site. Also here is
the country's only breeding site of booted warbler (Hippolais caligata), and regular wintering site of Indian pond heron (Ardeola grayii) .
For more information on Birds in the UAE CLICK
HERE
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