HALA AL KHAYYAT (ABU DHABI)
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has urged the public to ensure safe conditions for wild birds and to refrain from harmful practices such as egg collection, which can lead to breeding failures.
The islands of Abu Dhabi are a crucial sanctuary for birds during the summer months, serving as a breeding ground for many ecologically significant species, including the white-cheeked tern.
The EAD highlighted the importance of public cooperation in protecting these birds, advising against egg collection and encouraging the reporting of such activities to the Abu Dhabi Government at 800555.
The agency clarified that under Federal Law No. (24) of 1999, hunting wild birds, collecting their eggs, capturing, harming, or disturbing their nests is prohibited, with violators facing imprisonment and fines ranging from Dh2,000 to Dh20,000.
In its efforts to preserve biodiversity and protect migratory birds, the EAD has launched several initiatives.
These include expanding protected areas to provide safe havens for nesting and breeding, and implementing national programmes within the biodiversity strategy to conserve and propagate endangered species, especially falcons and houbara bustards, releasing them back into their natural habitats.
The agency’s 2023 assessment of tern breeding on islands near and far from the Abu Dhabi coast revealed significant numbers: 1,162 pairs of bridled terns on Ghanem Island, 4,983 pairs of white-cheeked terns at 10 sites, 27,658 pairs of bridled terns at 5 sites, and 17,637 pairs on Ghanem Island.
Additionally, 16,590 pairs of lesser crested terns were recorded at 11 sites.
The UAE hosts many globally important seabird populations, with tidal areas attracting hundreds of thousands of migratory and shore birds annually, while desert areas provide refuge for songbirds escaping the winter in Asia.
The Sheikh Zayed Protected Areas Network, a pioneering model in wildlife and marine protection, safeguards 175 bird species, 11 percent of which are classified as endangered according to the Abu Dhabi Red List of Threatened Species.