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Photo credit Photo Caption lead in The Greater Flamingo Breeds again at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve-2012.The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) revealed yesterday that the Greater flamingo has successfully bred once again at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi. Flamingos first bred in this area in 1998 and then again a decade later. The bird nested at their traditional nesting which has been successful on the past two occasions in 1998-99 and in 2011.The first eggs were spotted during the last week in May and the first new-born chick was recorded on June 27. More chicks were born on the following days. The 2012 nesting season saw 17 chicks born, similar to the number of chicks born in 2011. Image Credit: EAD

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.