Inland wetlands in Abu Dhabi Emirate are wintering and stopover sites for migratory birds of prey. We conducted long-term regular monitoring surveys in Al Wathba Wetland Reserve (AWWR) from January 1995 to December 2022. Both diurnal and occasionally nocturnal surveys were undertaken to record the migratory raptors and owls in the Wetland Reserve. During the study, a total of 1282 regular monitoring visits were undertaken and 27 species of diurnal raptors and owls representing five families and three orders were detected. These represent 57% of the total species of birds of prey recorded in the UAE. Overall, 63% of all the species that we observed were Accipitriformes followed by 26% Falconiformes and 11% Strigiformes. We found that changes in mean daily temperature have a positive effect on raptor species diversity and abundance in the Wetland Reserve. The species encounter rate was higher in low temperature as compared to high temperature and overall regression equation was statistically significant F (4, 1126) = 8.49), p = 0.00). However, the numbers of raptors did not vary significantly across the years ( p = 0.51). Western Marsh-harrier ( Circus aeruginosus ) and Greater Spotted Eagle ( Clanga clanga ) were recorded to be the most abundant species in the wetland reserve followed by Common Kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ). However, the encounter rate of globally threatened Greater Spotted Eagle was detected to have significantly decreased since 2016. Moreover, 63% of the species detected were uncommon and rarely recorded such as 1) Saker Falcon 2) Lanner Falcon 3) Long-eared Owl & Merlin, which were the rare records from the wetland reserve. Furthermore, 27 years of regular monitoring in the wetland have yielded diverse diurnal raptors and owl fauna (H) = 0.83, (E) = 1.43 (Shannon Diversity Index). The results demonstrate that long-term monitoring surveys in arid environments are essential to determine the trends in the raptor populations and to document rare and globally important species.
Casado, S., Florin, M., Molla, S. and Montes, C. (1992) Current Status of Spanish Wetlands. In: Finlayson, C.M., Hollis, G.E. and Davis, T.J., Eds., Managing Mediterranean Wetlands and Their Birds, IWRB Special Publication No. 20, IWRB, Stembridge, 56-58.
Green, A.J. (1996) Analyses of Globally Threatened Anatidae in Relation to Threats, Distribution, Migration Patterns and Habitat Use. Conservation Biology, 10, 1435-1445. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1996.10051435.x
Getzner, M. (2002) Investigating Public Decision about Protecting Wetlands. Environmental Management, 64, 237-246. https://doi.org/10.1006/jema.2001.0471
Kumar, N.J.I., Soni, H. and Kumar, R.N. (2007) Patterns of Seasonal Abundance and Diversity in the Waterbird Community of Nal Lake Bird Sanctuary, Gujarat, India. Journal of Bird Populations, 8, 1-20.
Balton, L.V., Ghasaian, M.G., Adamin, M.S. and Klemjir, D. (2002) Chang in the Waterbirds Community of the Lake Sevan-Lake Gilli area. Biological Conservation, 106, 157-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(01)00242-7
Collwell, M.A. and Dodd, A. (1995) Waterbirds Communities and Habital Relationship in Coastal Pastures of Northern California. Biological Conservation, 21, 75-84.
Behrouzi-Rad, B. (1996) The Bird Community of Iranian Mangrove Forests. Journal of Environmental Science, 8, 8-70. (In Persian)
Whittaker, R.H. and Likens, G.E. (1973) Primary Production: The Biosphere and Man. Human Ecology, 1, 357-369. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536732
Gibbs, J.P. (1993) The Importance of Small Wetlands for the Persistence of Local Populations of Wetland-Associated Animals. Wetlands, 13, 25-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160862
Paracuellos, M. and Tellería, J.L. (2004) Factors Affecting the Distribution of a Waterbird Community: The Role of Habitat Configuration and Bird Abundance. Waterbirds, 27, 446-453. https://doi.org/10.1675/1524-4695(2004)027[0446:FATDOA]2.0.CO;2
Ahmed, S., Jáved, S., Khan, B.K., Al Hammadi, E. and Al Hammadi, A. (2021) Species Diversity and Abundance of Wild Birds in Bul Syayeef, a Ramsar Site in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate. Tribulus, 28, 37-50.
Taylor, W.P. (1934) Significance of Extreme or Intermittent Conditions in Distribution of Species and Management of Natural Resources, with a Restatement of Liebig’s Law of Minimum. Ecology, 15, 374-379. https://doi.org/10.2307/1932352
Larsen, E.B. (1949) The Influence of the Severe Winters of 1939-42 on the Soil Fauna of Tipperne. Oikos, 1, 184-207. https://doi.org/10.2307/3564712
Gordo, O. (2007) Why Are Bird Migration Dates Shifting? A Review of Weather and Climate Effects on Avian Migratory Phenology. Climate Research, 35, 37-58. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr00713
Jaffré, M., Beaugrand, G., Goberville, E., Jiguet, F., Kjellén, N., Troost, G., Dubois, J., Leprêtre, A. and Luczak, C. (2013) Long-Term Phenological Shifts in Raptor Migration and Climate. PLOS ONE, 8, e79112. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0079112
Nägeli, M., Scherler, P., Witczak, S., Catitti, B., Aebischer, A., Bergen, V., Kormann, U. and Gruebler, M.U. (2021) Weather and Food Availability Additively Affect Reproductive Output in an Expanding Raptor Population. Population Ecology, 198, 125-138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-021-05076-6
Mitsch, W.J. and Gosselink, J.G. (2000) Wetlands. Wiley, New York.
Burton, N.H.K., Rehfisch, M.M., Clark, N.A. and Dodd, S.G. (2006) Impacts of Sudden Winter Habitat Loss on the Body Condition and Survival of Redshank Tringa totanus. Journal of Applied Ecology, 43, 464-473. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2006.01156.x
Pedersen, T.S.J., Aspinall, O.J., et al. (2021) EBRC Annotated Checklist of the Birds of the United Arab Emirates. https://www.uaebirding.com/bird-checklists
Jáved, S. (2012) Trapping and Hunting of Migratory Raptors in the United Arab Emirates. Unpublished Report. Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi.
Hager, S.B. (2009) Human-Related Threats to Urban Raptors. Journal of Raptor Research, 43, 210-226. https://doi.org/10.3356/JRR-08-63.1
CMS, Convention on Migratory Species (2005) Improving the Conservation Status of Raptors and Owls in the African-Eurasian Region. The Conference of the Parties at Its 8th Meeting, Nairobi, 20-25 November 2005.
UNEP-WCMC (2018) Protected Area Profile for Al Wathba from the World Database of Protected Areas, December 2018. https://www.protectedplanet.net
Soorae, P., Sakkir, S., Saji, A., Khan, B.K., Al Zaabi, R., Shah, J.N., et al. (2019) A Review of the Flora and Fauna in the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Journal of the Society of Wetland Scientists: Wetlands, 40, 1505-1512. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-019-01235-x
Al Dhaheri, S. (2004) Assessment of Brine Shrimp (Artemia Sp.) Productivity at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Abu Dhabi, UAE. M.Sc. Thesis, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi.
Campbell, O., Jáved, S., Al Dhaheri, S., Al Omari, K.A., Soorae, P. and Al Dhaheri, A. (2019) Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Abu Dhabi Emirate: Successful Mixing of Birds and People. Sandgrouse, 4, 73-84.
Bibby, J.C., Burgess, N.D. and Hill, D.A. (2000) Bird Census Techniques. 2nd Edition, Academic Press, London.
Ralph, C.J., Sauer, J.R. and Droege, S. (1995) Monitoring Bird Populations by Point Counts. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-149. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Albany, 187. https://doi.org/10.2737/PSW-GTR-149
Bibby, C.J., Burgess, N.D. and Hill, D.A. (1992) Bird Census Techniques. Academic Press, London.
Zalles, J.I. and Bildstein, K.L. (2000) Raptor Watch: A Global Directory of Raptor Migration Sites. Information Press, Oxford.
MacNally, R., Ellis, M. and Barret, G. (2004) Avian Bio-Diversity Monitoring in Australian Rangeland. Austral Ecology, 29, 93-99. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2004.01352.x
Chambers, S.A. (2008) Birds as Environmental Indicators: Review of Literature. Parks Victoria Technical Series No. 55. Parks Victoria, Melbourne, 48. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2006.00531.x
Thiolllay, J.M. (2006) The Decline of Raptors in West Africa: Long Term Assessment, Human Pressure and Role of Protected Areas. Ibis, 148, 240-254. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(99)00166-4
Herremans, M. and Herremans-Toonnoeyr, D. (2000) Land Use and Conservation Status of Raptors in Botswana. Biological Conservation, 94, 31-41.
Hussell, D.J.T. and Brown, L. (1992) Population Changes in Diurnally-Migrating Raptors at Duluth, Minnesota (1974-1989) and Grimsby, Ontario (1975-1990) Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Maple, Ontario, Canada.
Rich, T.D., Beardmore, C.J., Berlanga, H., et al. (2004) Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca.
Bart, J. (2005) Monitoring the Abundance of Bird Populations. Auk, 122, 15-25. https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/122.1.15
Fereidouni, S., Aghakhan, M., Werner, O., Starick, E. and Bozorghmehrifard, M. (2005) Isolation and Identification of Avian Influenza Viruses from Migratory Birds in Iran. Veterinary Record, 157, 526. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.157.17.526
Jáved, S., Khan, S.B. and Zubaidi, A. (2005) Migratory Bird Monitoring for Avian Influenza in Abu Dhabi Emirate. Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi.
Jáved, S., Khan, B.K. and Junaid, S. (2007) Avian Influenza: Global Situation and Local Actions: A Review of Global Avian Influenza Situation and Annual Synthesis of Wild Bird Monitoring Carried out in the United Arab Emirates under the National Avian Influenza Action Plan: An Internal Unpublished Report. Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi.
Aspinall, S., Jáved, S., et al. (2011) Birds of the United Arabi Emirates, a Guide to Common and Important Species. Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi.
Ahmed, S. and Khan, B.K. (2021) IUCN Red List of Ecosystems for Abu Dhabi Emirate—Inland Wetlands. The Abu Dhabi Red List of Ecosystems, an Assessment of the Protection Status of Arid Ecosystems in Abu Dhabi Emirate.
Cooper, D.S., Yeh, P.J. and Blumstein, D.T. (2021) Tolerance and Avoidance of Urban Cover in a Southern California Suburban Raptor Community over Five Decades. Urban Ecosystems, 24, 291-300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-020-01035-w
Grande, J.M., Orozco-Valor, P.M., Liébana, M.S. and Sarasola, J.H. (2018) Birds of Prey in Agricultural Landscapes: The Role of Agriculture Expansion and Intensification. In: Birds of Prey, Springer, Cham, 197-228. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73745-4_9
Ahmed, S., Jáved, S., Khan, B.K., Al Hammadi, E. and Al Hammadi, A. (2022) A Rare Long-Eared Owl (Asio otus) Sighted after a Gap of 22 Years in Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi, UAE. (In Press)
NCM, National Centre of Meteorology, Abu Dhabi, UAE. https://www.ncm.ae
Tholin, M. (2010) Weather Induced Variations in Raptor Migration, a Study of Raptor Migration during One Autumn Season in Kazbegi, Georgia. Department of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Lund, 15.
Kirk, D.A. and Hyslop, C. (1998) Population Status and Recent Trends in Canadian Raptors: A Review. Biological Conservation, 83, 91-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(97)00051-7
Dunn, E.H., Altman, B.L., Bart, J., Beardmore, C.J., Berlanga, H., Blancher, P.J., et al. (2005) High Priority Needs for Range-Wide Monitoring of North American Landbirds. Partners in Flight Technical Series, No. 2.
Jáved, S., García-Rawlins, A.M., Rodríguez, J.P., Sakkir, S. and Dhaheri, S.S. (2020) The Abu Dhabi Red List of Species: An Assessment of the Conservation Status of Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Invertebrates, and Plants in Abu Dhabi Emirate. Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, Provita and IUCN Species Survival Commission.
IUCN (2021) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2021-3. https://www.iucnredlist.org
Mengesha, G. and Bekele, A. (2008) Diversity and Relative Abundance of Birds of Alatish National Park. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 34, 215-222.
Tilahun, C., Travi, Y. and Valles, V. (2001) Mechanism of Degradation of the Quality of Natural Water in the Lakes Region of the Ethiopian Rift Valley. Water Resource, 35, 2819-2832. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00002-1
Jáved, S., Khan, B.K., Shah, J.N., Ahmed, S., Hammadi, A.A. and Hammadi, E.A. (2014) Studying Migration of Important Birds from the United Arab Emirates-Satellite Tracking Annual Report 2014. Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi.
Ahmed, S., Jáved, S., Khan, B.K., Shah, J.N., Al Hammadi, A., Al Hammadi, E. and Al Dhaheri, S. (2017) Winter Distribution of Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) in Abu Dhabi and Its Population Trend at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in the United Arab Emirate. Proceeding of 10th Asian Raptor Research and Conservation Network (ARRCN), Davao, 18-22 October 2017, 32.
Snow, D.W. and Perrins, C.M. (1998) The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Volume 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Ferguson-Lees, J. and Christie, D.A. (2001) Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London.
Holmes, R.T., Marra, P.P. and Sherry, T.W. (1996) Habitat-Specific Demography of Breeding Black-Throated Blue Warblers (Dendroica caerulescens): Implications for Population Dynamics. Journal of Animal Ecology, 65, 183-195. https://doi.org/10.2307/5721
Sherry, T.W. and Holmes, R.T. (1996) Winter Habitat Quality, Population Limitation, and Conservation of Neotropical-Nearctic Migrant Birds. Ecology, 77, 36-48. https://doi.org/10.2307/2265652
Newton, I. and Chandler, R.D. (1985) Conservation Studies on Raptors. ICBP Technical Publication No. 5. International Council for Bird Protection, Cambridge, 482 p.
Meyburg, B.U. and Chancellor, R.D. (1994) Raptor Conservation Today. World Working Group on Birds of Prey and Owls, Berlin, 799.
Bildstein, K.L. (2006) Migrating Raptors of the World: Their Ecology and Conservation. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 320.
Al-Sheikhly, O.F., Al-Barazangi, A.N., Mukhtar, K.H., Fazaa, N., Abdulzahra, H.K., Abou Turab, M.K. and Al-Azawi, A.J. (2017) Ring Recoveries from Steppe Eagles and Eastern Imperial Eagles from the Russian and Kazakhstan Breeding Populations and a Review of Major Threats to Eagles in Iraq. Raptors Conservation, 35, 51-61. https://doi.org/10.19074/1814-8654-2017-35-51-61
BirdLife International (2017) Clanga clanga (Amended Version of 2016 Assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017.