Sindibad the flamingo heads to Iran

EAD tracks birds to highlight an important message. The message that it is necessary to conserve wetlands such as Ras Al Khor in Dubai and Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi and indeed the rest of the coastline. These wetlands are very important to the flamingos and to many other birds as they use them to rest and feed.

Sindibad is the first flamingo ever to be captured and fitted with satellite transmitter anywhere in the Arabian Peninsula. It began its second spring migration from Um Al Quwain's Khor Al Beidah on March 9, 2007. It journeyed on a straight 132 km flight across the Gulf to reach the Iranian coast, 50 km east of Banda-e-Lengah and north of Qusm Island. Since it has been tagged, Sindibad has traveled more than 5,000 km (point to point distances) and spent 95 days wintering in the UAE.

EAD hopes that additional data, collected in the coming days, will prove extremely useful to learn more about flamingo movement in and outside the UAE. It may also provide information for understanding bird movement and migration in the context of Bird flu.

According to EAD's records, the birds tracked in 2007 showed similar movement patterns of the birds tracked in 2005. The birds also shared another common characteristic. They used the coastal and inland wetlands to rest and feed. This just reiterated the importance of conserving such wetlands.

So what 'on the ground' action has been taken since EAD began studying and tracking these birds? The area of Bu Al Siaief has been set aside to be declared a marine protected area.