At Home In Dubai

With the increase in greenery around the city, more and more birds have made Dubai their permanent residence.

These well-irrigated green areas are home to a variety of insects and worms. And this has become the main source of food for birds that were earlier migrants here.

Many of these birds are seen nesting in Safa Park. The most common among them are mynahs, starlings, sparrows, crows, prinias, sunbirds and Indian rollers.

One of the most colourful among these species is the Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops). This variety was a common migrant during winter and only started nesting in Dubai in early 1991.

The hoopoe is a reddish-brown or sandy-coloured ground-dwelling bird with white and black bands running over its wings and tail. It also has a very prominent crest and a long but slightly curved bill.

Habitually, these beautiful birds build nests in elevated places such as natural holes in trees, forts, dilapidated buildings and in crevices in rocks and walls.

These birds rarely build nests at ground level, especially if it's in a busy public park.

On a regular bird watching trip to Safa Park, I was shocked to see a hoopoe carrying food for its babies disappear into the ground under a gulmohar tree.