Abu Dhabi: The Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is a flagship species for conservation in the UAE and has successfully bred at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Shahama and Bulsyayeef, all in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The Environment Agency — Abu Dhabi has a successful flamingo tracking programme, implemented since 2005.
The Greater flamingo makes a mound on islands or in a sheltered coastal habitat and lays a single egg. It is a species with a broad distribution range from the western Mediterranean Basin to Sri Lanka in the north, to South Africa in the south.
It is the most common visitor to the UAE and can be observed all year round in lagoons, fresh and salt waters of artificial wetlands, even close to human settlements or activities, such as highways, suburbs, industrial areas, salt pans, sewage ponds.