The Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi Emirate

52°E

53°E

54°E

55°E

171

B IRD H ABITATS I MPORTANT A VIAN A REAS The numerous offshore islands and extensive coastline of Abu Dhabi Emirate provide diverse habitats to birds, particularly wintering shorebirds that use food-rich intertidal areas as feeding grounds. There are vital hotspots in the Emirate for bird conservation known as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) identified by BirdLife International (BLI), a global bird conservation organisation. IBAs are selected following objective criteria including one per cent of the biogeographical population, 20,000 or more waterfowl, or based on the regular presence of a globally threatened species. Nine BLI IBAs and an additional five identified by EAD are located in the Emirate.

26°N

26°N

A r a b i a n G u l f

Abu Dhabi also supports a number of important wetlands identified by the Middle East Wetland Inventory (MEWI) as significant not only to birds but a host of other species. Althoughmany of these important conservation areas (IBAs, MEWI) are recognised globally, this does not guarantee protection unless local action is taken. Local conservation planning is the essential next step to ensuring long-term protection of these areas and the bird life they support.

Umm al-Qaiwain

Ajman

Qatar

Sharjah

Dubai

Sir Abu Nu'air (Sharjah)

25°N

25°N

Qarnein

Dinah

Taweela

Shwaib

Al Faq

Samha

Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve

Mkasib

Al Hayer

Qaffay

Abu Dhabi

Muhayyimat

Shahama

Dalma

Al Yasat MPA

Sweihan

Ghaghah

Al Faziya

Ushh

Musaffah

Bul Syayeef

Al Ain

Sir Bani Yas

Bani Yas

Yasat

Umm Amin

Yahir

Al-Sulaimat

Jebel Dhanna

Bu Samra

As Sad

Umm al Hatab

Remah

Abu al-Abyadh

Al Khatim

Al Khazna

Ghuweifat

Ruwais

Mirfa

Sila'a

Al Hamra

Tarif

Houbara Protected Area

24°N

24°N

Oman

Abu Dhabi Western Region

Al Arad

Habshan

Ghayathi

Breeding Seabirds

Al Ain Abu Dhabi

Season of Use (Average Monthly Abundance)

Bid al-Mutawa

Winter < 100

Winter 100 - 1000

Madinat Zayed

Al Wijan

Winter 1000 - 5000

Bu Hasa

Summer < 100

Red-billed Tropicbird The Red-billed Tropicbird ( Phae- ton aethereus ) breeds during the winter months at 3 known breed- ing sites in the UAE: Qarnein, Zirku and, occasionally, Arzanah. Qar- nein is the largest and most impor- tant breeding site. The estimated 200 breeding pairs in Abu Dhabi represent nearly 2–3% of the entire world breeding numbers and roughly 13% of the Mid- dle East breeding population of indicus subspecies.

Summer 100 - 1000

Sooty Gull The Sooty Gull ( Larus hemprichii ), listed as a regional priority species, is exclusively an island-breeding species endemic to the north-west Indian Ocean, including the Ara- bian Gulf. Qarnein Island, with an estimated 2% of the world’s breed- ing population, has the larger of the 2 breeding colonies in the Emir- ate. The other colony is located on Dayyinah Island.

Summer 1000 - 5000

Al Bida'a

Summer > 5000

Middle East Wetland Inventory

Protected Areas

Al Ramla

Marine

Arabian Oryx Protected Area

Terrestrial

Mouzaira'a

Shah

Khannur

Al Delfawiyah

20

0

20

40

Liwa

Kilometres

Qiesah

23°N

23°N

52°E

53°E

54°E

55°E