ID :
155411
Thu, 12/30/2010 - 15:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/155411
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EAD tags twelve Flamingo at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve
Abu Dhabi, Dec 30, 2010 (WAM)- The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) has tagged yet another Greater Flamingo named "Yasmeena" as part of its ongoing work to track and monitor birds at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve. The total number of flamingos tagged by EAD has now reached 15 of which 9 are still being tracked.
The capture and tagging of flamingos is part of the Satellite Tracking Programme, which EAD initiated in 2005. This programme is helping EAD to better understand migration routes and stopover sites used by the Greater Flamingo. In 2005, for the first time ever in the Arabian Peninsula, five flamingos were captured and marked with plastic rings and satellite transmitters. The capture and marking was carried out at Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba Wetland Reserve by EAD, which also manages the Reserve. The programme was deemed a success by local and regional authorities and EAD has since expanded its programme to cover migratory birds of prey such as the Osprey and Sooty falcon.
Thanks to the programme, EAD now has a better understanding of where these birds go to feed and where they were migrating from.
Satellite tagged birds were attached with 70 and 45g GPS transmitter at Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in November 2005, January 2007, and December 2009. Four flamingos were tagged in Dubai in 2009. Three birds were also tagged in Bul Syayeef area in January 2010.
Over the course of the last five years, valuable data has been collected by the Agency. Currently, EAD is tracking a total of 9 flamingos tagged between 2005 till end 2010, with the latest flamingo having been successfully tagged yesterday in Al Wathba.
EAD's Satellite Tracking Programme documents the route taken during the spring migration and stopover sites used along their entire migration route between the UAE and Kazakhstan. Satellite tagged birds have successfully migrated north to their potential breeding or summering areas in Iran and Kazakhstan. One of these birds, named ‘Sindibad' by EAD, was the first bird to cross the Arabian Gulf stopping along the way at key wetland sites and he is currently in Khor Al Beidah in Um Al Qaiwain and continues to be tracked by EAD experts, even today.
"Protecting our birdlife in a world of rapid change and development is a challenge we must all aim to overcome. The use of satellite tracking on the flamingo has allowed us to discover the origin of the flamingos flying into Abu Dhabi and their migration routes. It has also helped us in making startling discoveries such as the new breeding colony of flamingos in 2009," said Dr. Salim Javed, Head of EAD's Bird Programme and Manager, Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring.
"We aim to continue investing in such technologies and programmes to allow us to keep conserving our biodiversity and preserving the Emirate's natural heritage," he added.
Dr. Salim noted "Such long-term tracking is vital for the long-term conservation of flamingos along their breeding and wintering distribution ranges. It is also effective for the protection of such sites which eventually protect many other waterbirds that share similar habitats along the migratory flyway".
Regular locations from one of the flamingos' satellite tagged in Al Wathba in 2007 helped EAD discover a new breeding colony of flamingos in April 2009 in Abu Dhabi's Mussafah Channel. This once again highlighted the key wetland sites used by flamingos in the UAE, some of which need urgent protection.
Bu Tinah Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi, is also home to hundreds of flamingos. The Island has been shortlisted in an international competition 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 unique coral reefs found nowhere else on planet Earth, Bu Tinah is the only finalist from the Arabian Gulf region and a source of pride throughout the Gulf.
Understanding movement and migration patterns of important species combined with ground monitoring is essential for the overall conservation of species and the key sites they use. Use of satellite tracking technology has enhanced EAD's ability to understand this much more efficiently and accurately, and has significant scientific and management importance for this species. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
The capture and tagging of flamingos is part of the Satellite Tracking Programme, which EAD initiated in 2005. This programme is helping EAD to better understand migration routes and stopover sites used by the Greater Flamingo. In 2005, for the first time ever in the Arabian Peninsula, five flamingos were captured and marked with plastic rings and satellite transmitters. The capture and marking was carried out at Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba Wetland Reserve by EAD, which also manages the Reserve. The programme was deemed a success by local and regional authorities and EAD has since expanded its programme to cover migratory birds of prey such as the Osprey and Sooty falcon.
Thanks to the programme, EAD now has a better understanding of where these birds go to feed and where they were migrating from.
Satellite tagged birds were attached with 70 and 45g GPS transmitter at Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in November 2005, January 2007, and December 2009. Four flamingos were tagged in Dubai in 2009. Three birds were also tagged in Bul Syayeef area in January 2010.
Over the course of the last five years, valuable data has been collected by the Agency. Currently, EAD is tracking a total of 9 flamingos tagged between 2005 till end 2010, with the latest flamingo having been successfully tagged yesterday in Al Wathba.
EAD's Satellite Tracking Programme documents the route taken during the spring migration and stopover sites used along their entire migration route between the UAE and Kazakhstan. Satellite tagged birds have successfully migrated north to their potential breeding or summering areas in Iran and Kazakhstan. One of these birds, named ‘Sindibad' by EAD, was the first bird to cross the Arabian Gulf stopping along the way at key wetland sites and he is currently in Khor Al Beidah in Um Al Qaiwain and continues to be tracked by EAD experts, even today.
"Protecting our birdlife in a world of rapid change and development is a challenge we must all aim to overcome. The use of satellite tracking on the flamingo has allowed us to discover the origin of the flamingos flying into Abu Dhabi and their migration routes. It has also helped us in making startling discoveries such as the new breeding colony of flamingos in 2009," said Dr. Salim Javed, Head of EAD's Bird Programme and Manager, Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring.
"We aim to continue investing in such technologies and programmes to allow us to keep conserving our biodiversity and preserving the Emirate's natural heritage," he added.
Dr. Salim noted "Such long-term tracking is vital for the long-term conservation of flamingos along their breeding and wintering distribution ranges. It is also effective for the protection of such sites which eventually protect many other waterbirds that share similar habitats along the migratory flyway".
Regular locations from one of the flamingos' satellite tagged in Al Wathba in 2007 helped EAD discover a new breeding colony of flamingos in April 2009 in Abu Dhabi's Mussafah Channel. This once again highlighted the key wetland sites used by flamingos in the UAE, some of which need urgent protection.
Bu Tinah Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi, is also home to hundreds of flamingos. The Island has been shortlisted in an international competition 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 unique coral reefs found nowhere else on planet Earth, Bu Tinah is the only finalist from the Arabian Gulf region and a source of pride throughout the Gulf.
Understanding movement and migration patterns of important species combined with ground monitoring is essential for the overall conservation of species and the key sites they use. Use of satellite tracking technology has enhanced EAD's ability to understand this much more efficiently and accurately, and has significant scientific and management importance for this species. – Emirates News Agency, WAM
