The Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi Emirate

52°E

53°E

54°E

55°E

173

H OUBARA A SIAN H OUBARA D ISTRIBUTION & P OPULATION

900

Ra's al- Khaimah

800

700

Umm al-Qaiwain

600

500

The Asian Houbara ( Chlamydotis macqueenii ), a remarkable desert species that winters in the UAE, has experienced sharp declines globally in population attributed primarily to loss of wintering and breeding habitat, over trapping and unregulated hunting. To attenuate the decline of this species (the favoured prey of falconers), the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) and its daughter organisation the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) are working with other nations to protect Houbara populations in the wild through breed and release programmes. The number of Houbara released per year at select sites in the UAE has increased markedly from 2004 to the

2010–2011 release period, during which 884 birds were released into the wild. There are nine known sites in the UAE that support populations of Houbara. Baynunah, which includes a proposed 769 square kilometre Protected Area for Houbara, supports the largest known population of Houbara in the UAE, with an estimated 400 birds. Protecting the habitat of this vulnerable species, as well as furthering our understanding of its migration patterns, population dynamics and breeding biology, is essential to the long-term survival of the Asian Houbara.

400

Ajman

300

Sharjah

200

Qatar

Estimated Population Per Area

Dubai

100

0

Salem Margham Maghayel

Yaeila

Yo Dibsah Um Al

Baynunah Sir Bani Yas

Al Maha Al Bida'a Merzoum

Sokur Bergha

Zumul

Houbara Population Areas

900

25°N

25°N

Margham

800

A r a b i a n G u l f

700

Al Maha, Dubai

600

500

Shwaib

Al Faq

400

Houbara Natural Breeding Nest Male Display site Houbara Protected Area

Mkasib

300

Al Hayer

200

Qaffay

2 0 2 4

Kilometres

0 100

Dalma

Muhayyimat

Number of Houbara Released

Sweihan

2007

2008

2009

2010

2004

2005

2005- 2006

2010- 2011

Ghaghah

Sir BaniYas

Year of Release

Marawah

Sir Bani Yas

Yahir

Al Ain

Al-Sulaimat

Jebel Dhanna

Bu Samra

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve

Al Khatim

As Sad

Remah

Abu al-Abyadh

Al Khazna

Baynunah Area Nests and Male Display Sites

Ruwais

Maghayel Salem

Mirfa

Sila'a

Al Hamra

Az Zahir

Tarif

Mezyed

Merzoum

The Houbara conservation efforts in the Emirate are succeeding. The recent nesting and hatchling success recorded at Baynunah, which supports the Emirate’s largest Houbara population, can be attributed to captive breeding and release success, improved habitat and effective management of the protected area. Continued efforts will help to reestablish Houbara populations on their wintering and breeding grounds in the Emirate.

Bergha Sokur

Houbara Protected Area

24°N

24°N

Baynunah

Al Arad

Ghayathi

Habshan

Al Ain Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Western Region

Bid al-Mutawa

Yaeila

Oman

Yo Dibsah

Madinat Zayed

Hazem Barood

Al Bida'a

Bu Hasa

Houbara Large numbers of Houbara are trapped for use in training falcons to hunt. Encouraging the use of alternate species or captive- reared birds for training is essential to the protection of Houbara populations.

Towns

Large/Medium Towns Small Towns

Al Bida'a

Administrative Boundaries

Arabian Oryx Protected Area

Regions

Houbara Natural Breeding in Baynunah These photos document the natural breeding process of the Houbara: a displaying male, a nest with eggs and 3 chicks. Houbara males conduct flamboyant displays during courtship by raising their ornate feathers, throwing their heads back

Roads

Al Ramla

Dual Carriageway

and making abrupt movements. Females then lay 2–4 eggs in a scrape on the ground. Recent successful chick hatchings in the Emirate provide a ray of hope for this prized bird.

Release Sites - Number Released 25 or Less 26 to 100 101 to 300

Shah

Mouzaira'a

Khannur

Al Delfawiyah

Liwa

Qiesah

Umm Al Zumul

Greater than 300

Aradah

23°N

23°N

Hamim

Houbara Populated Areas

Al Ain Western Region

Protected Areas Terrestrial

Terrestrial Special Conservation Areas

Saudi Arabia

20

0

20

40 Kilometres

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