Abu Dhabi: Environmentalists are now making use of conservation drones to further assess and monitor the flamingo population at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) announced in a statement sent on Sunday.
The drones capture footage of the birds in areas that are difficult to reach, thus allowing for the verification of species numbers, the statement said. In addition, the exercise furnishes the EAD with aerial pictures of the breeding birds, acting as a cost-effective data collection method.
“The drones will help us verify wildlife numbers while providing quality information and a more comprehensive understanding of the species being studied,” said Dr Shaikha Salem Al Daheri, executive director of terrestrial and marine biodiversity at the EAD.
“Conservation is impossible without adequate field data, and drones are the future of conservation. Drones [act] as airborne robots that are able to access the difficult-to-reach areas while minimising human presence,” she added.
The Greater Flamingo can be seen throughout the year in the UAE at lagoons and mudflats along the coast. Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is one of the major wetlands in Abu Dhabi emirate, and home to the first successful breeding ground of the species in the Arabian Peninsula.
Earlier last year, the reserve was declared a Ramsar site by intergovernmental sustainability organisation Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Dr Salim Javed, manager of terrestrial assessment and conservation at the EAD, told Gulf News that the presence of flamingoes in the area played a large role in its recognition as a key wetland.
“Flamingoes are a very charismatic yet finicky species, and the fact that they choose to breed at Al Wathba shows that the all the environmental variables, such as water level, water quality and number of predators, are in good shape,” Dr Javed explained.
In winter, Al Wathba sees about 4,000 flamingoes. In summer, after the migratory birds have left, about 2,200 resident birds remain.
The birds are also seen at many sites across the UAE, including Bu Seif, Ras Al Khor in Dubai and Khor Al Bidah in Umm Al Quwain.
“But Al Wathba is particularly important. Arabia is at the edge of the breeding grounds for flamingoes, and the last time they bred in the peninsula was 1922, in Kuwait. Around 1998, however, they were successful in Al Wathba, and this is when the potential of the area as a wetland was identified,” Dr Javed said.
He added that the EAD drones will allow for a non-invasive manner of monitoring the birds. Dr Shaikha also said that the drones will be used to monitor activity at the EAD’s Al Faya and Deleika wildlife management and holding facilities.
