Birds In UAE

Hi Friends,

I have been very busy lately and it is becoming hard to write regular posts on the blog. It will be even more challenging when a new member will arrive in our family within next few months. But as of now I am enjoying amazing weather in UAE and can't wait to share my most favourite post with you all. I have been collecting data about this topic since long time and was waiting long to take photos of these beautiful birds found in such a small desert country.

It is definitely a great co-incidence to publish Birds In UAE before UAE's National Day! It's my personal tribute to natural beauty of UAE; my second home.

There are scientific and statistical data available on internet for Birds in UAE, if anybody is interested. (Also see at the end of article my note about where to find more about birds in UAE.)

Migratory Birds:
Firstly we all need to keep in mind the very central location of UAE. When winter begins in the Northern Hemisphere, many migratory birds from Europe and North Asia take their stop in UAE while migrating to Africa and southern parts. Why they choose UAE? Answer to that is, while they pass the region, it's winter in UAE so weather is pleasant for them. UAE is blessed with numerouse marshes and mangroves; to name few Ras Al Khor, Eastern Mangrove in Abu Dhabi, Khor Al Kalba etc. Very convenient location of this tip of arabian peninsula and abundantly available food supply for these birds here (fish and biodiverse species in mangroves) is the reason why this region is popular amongst migratory birds. We get to see migratory birds mainly in marshes, mangroves, sea shores and sometimes in parks.



Slender-billed Gull






Lesser Crested Tern




Lesser Crested Tern



Mallard



Common Sandpiper



Grey Heron



Native Birds:
Apart from these migratory birds there are local birds, who are thriving in this very hot and humid condition since ages. We get to see these birds all over near the cost and also in dessert.

Kalbanese Kingfisher:
The Kalba Collared Kingfisher, also called the Kalbaensis, the UAE’s only kingfisher, is found in Khor Kalba. It is a blue green and white bird is considered one of the rarest in the world and has lived in isolation from other kingfisher species found in South and East Asia. It often picks up crabs from ground.
Grey Frankolin or Grey Partridge:





Grey Frankolin or Grey Partridge





Grey Frankolin or Grey Partridge

Endangered Birds:
Houbara/MacQueen Bustard:

This used to be very popular bird in Arabia where it used to be hunted with the help of trained Falcons till 1990s. The trend has stopped now because this species has become extinct in UAE nature. Houbara Bustard is endangered in UAE.
It is light sandy brown and white bird with large-body, long legs and a slender neck. There is bib-like tuft of feathers over the breast. When performing spectacular breeding dance in front of female, male fluffs the feathers in such a way to make feather basket around his face.

In 1995 late HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan set up Emirates Center for Wild life propogation in Morrocco to protect and conserve Houbara Bustard in North Africa.
In 2006 International Fund for Houbara Conservation is set up in Western Region of Abu Dhabi. Under this conservation program, the centers are established for captive breeding of the birds in UAE, Morocco, Kazakistan and China. In 2011 alone IFHC bred 20,475 Asian and North African houbara in its centres. Out of which in UAE, there were 2,727 Asian houbara chicks born in captivity with an encouraging 53 per cent survival rate.
In the same time, the number of houbara released into the wild was a record 13,400, reaching the milestone figure of 50,000 since the houbara release programme began in 1998 with just two birds released in North Africa. Some 1,350 of them were released in 10 different locations across the UAE.

Newly Introduced Resident Birds:



Some birds came from somewhere else and setteled here permanently. These campartively newly settled birds in this region are multiplying quickly as they live in newly created landscaped habitat in UAE, where they get enough food and water supply even in summer. I have seen many birds drinking water from water sprinkleres used for landscaping and same landscape (trees, flora, fauna) provide them food. These birds are found in all sort of residential areas and parks in UAE.







Little Green Bee-Eater

Little Green Bee-Eater






Indian Roller

Greater Flamingo

Greater Flamingo

Greater Flamingo



 




Alexandrine or Large Indian Parakeet



 House Sparrow

                                                          



 





Laughing /Palm Dove







Laughing /Palm and Eurasian Collared Doves





Eurasian Collared/Ring Dove



Indian Roller, Indian Crow



Southern Grey Shrike



Red-wattled Lapwing



Red-wattled Lapwing



Hoopoe



Common Maina



Pigeons



UAE's best places for Bird watching (Bird habitats)

Khors, Marshes & Mangroves
Ras Al Khor wild life sanctury
Khor Kalba
Sadiyat Island Mangroves
Estern Mangroves, Abu Dhabi
Khor Mamzer
Um Al Quain


Sea Shore & Creeks
Dubai Creek
Ras Al Khaimah Corniche
Abu Dhabi Corniche
Buhaira Corniche Sharjah
Beaches in Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Khorfakan


Dessert & Dunes
Almost 75-80% of land in UAE is covered by dessert and dunes.


Montains &Wadies
Hajar Mountain Range, Hatta
Wadies in Fujairah
Mountain roads joining Masafi, Fujairah, Khorfakan

Manmade Environments
a. Parks
b. Sewage Treatment Plants- International City
c. Golf courses, Hotel Premises
d. Landscaped Residential Communities

Next time you go outdoors, you would see some of these beautiful birds in UAE. Enjoy bird watching and Happy National Day to all UAE people!

Note:
To find more about birds in UAE checkout below links
http://www.uaebirding.com/
http://www.arkive.org/uae/en/birds
I would also recommend a very informative and beatiful book published by Dubai Municipality "Birds of Dubai A pictorial Guide"

Disclaimer for Photos:
Photos in this post are author's property, to use these photos you can contact author and link the photos back to this blog.

Aid in Motion- Charity for my Unwanted Stuff

Hi Guys,
Today I am very happy to get rid of my unwanted stuff for very good cause and couldn't wait to share with you all!
As you know we are on a mission to find out different ways to reuse, reduce & recycle unwanted things, which in turn solves the waste problem. I have discussed many ways to do this in numerous previous posts on this blog. Right from innovative, artistic reuse of waste to flea market and charities.
I have used many different charities to give away my unwanted stuff in last 6 years in Dubai.
This time I came across 'Aid In Motion', Volunteer in Dubai Initiative that collects unwanted items for the less fortunate.
You can find out more about this charity on http://www.volunteerindubai.com/projects/aid-in-motion.
Or you can like their facebook page, to know any new update regarding their charity opportunities, www.facebook.com/aidinmotion You can also call on 04 870 6535 and request them to arrange pick up for your unwanted items.
Aid in Motion is project launched by of Volunteer in Dubai. They have fabulous group of volunteers known as "Area Collection Representatives" to collect your unwanted stuff in good condition like clothes, books, household items. The list of items which they accept for charity is on their page.
After they collect your items, they sort out items and distribute to labors living in labor camps in Dubai and Sharjah. Sometimes they send these items to needy people in less privileged countries like Uganda, Nepal. And sometimes they sell these items in second hand flea market and use the money to do specific help to less fortunate needy individuals in Dubai. Just recently they sold items in flea market and bought a wheel chair for someone who was in need of it, but could not afford it.

When I saw their recent FB status, I called up their call center and requested to arrange pick up. I had around 30 unwanted books in very good condition, a bag of good condition clothes (mostly formal clothes of my husband and me) and medicines, which are not expired yet along with old spectacles.
One of their volunteer Salman, from my neighborhood contacted me for pick up. After we co-ordinated, he picked up my 3 bags of unwanted stuff from my place. I am sure my unwanted stuff will be given to someone who needs it and can't afford it. Or if they sell these items, the earnings will be used for a noble help. To find that out, I would definitely check on their FB page, what is the next help/charity they are doing?
Thank you Aid In Motion and Volunteer in Dubai to let me take part in your charity! I Hope Dubai-based readers of my blog also would contact Aid In Motion to give away their unwanted stuff to the less fortunate!