EAD records highest breeding of flamingos at Al Wathba Wetlands

ABU DHABI, 5th January, 2016 (WAM) -- The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, EAD, has unveiled yet another season of successful breeding for the Greater Flamingo. A total of 420 chicks were born at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi this season, more than twice the previous record high of 200 chicks. Breeding activity was observed during mid-April to the first week of July, a period of two and a half months. According to EAD, a major contributor to this record was the management of the nesting island. The island was filled and raised, increasing the area and freeing up more space for the flamingos to breed. In addition, there has been continuous water quality monitoring to ensure availability of natural food and the right water levels during both summer and winter. The adult birds first landed on the nesting island at the onset of summer in April. During the second week of April, the birds were observed building mounds on the island. By April 19th, a total of 71 mounds were built and by the end of April, that number had reached almost 400. The first chick was sighted on May 17th, 2015, and the last chick hatched on July 1st. "Record breeding of flamingos at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve highlights the effectiveness of our management activities and illustrates how timely management interventions can bring such remarkable results," said Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD. "We are extremely happy that our efforts to improve the nesting conditions have paid rich dividends in terms of the highest breeding of flamingos at Al Wathba to date," said Dr. Salim Javed, Manager of Terrestrial Assessment and Conservation at EAD. "We will continue to improve on-land management so that the area continues to encourage more birds to breed at the reserve," he added. Flamingos successfully bred for the first time in 1998 at Al Wathba and following this successful breeding, the reserve, which is approximately 45 minutes from Abu Dhabi city, was established as a protected area by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It also provides a safe refuge for many species of reptiles, small mammals and insects. EAD monitors the routing of key elements at the reserve’s wildlife and manages a flamingo tracking programme. EAD also regularly monitors the water quality and Artemia (or brine shrimp) to help ensure a suitable environment for the flamingos to breed throughout the year. In April 2013, the reserve was internationally recognised and declared as a 'Ramsar Site', the first in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands, recognising the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/general/1395289909466.html