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Crab Plovers flock back to new breeding ground

ABU DHABI — The timely protection of a newly discovered site of the nationally and internationally important Crab Plover has attracted the birds back to their new breeding site in significantly larger numbers on the island of Abu Al Abyad in the 2005 breeding season.

The Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA), has been monitoring the Crab Plover and other waterbirds in the Emirate, for the past several years.

In 2004, ecologists from ERWDA’s Terrestrial Environment Research Center (TERC) discovered a new breeding site of Crab Plovers on Abu Al Abyadh island, one of Abu Dhabi’s largest islands. This site is considered the second on the island and the third in the UAE.

Following the discovery of the new breeding site, ERWDA proposed several protection measures as the colony was close to a temporary residential facility for the staff of a dredging company. His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, visited the site and ordered the immediate removal of the entire staff infrastructure and all other activities from the nearby area in order to protect the bird’s nesting habitat.

"We, the island’s management, is very supportive of ERWDA’s conservation programmes. Their timely action and measures to prevent any disturbance is one of the main reasons why more of these birds have returned to this new breeding site," said Ali Matar Al Romaithi, Assistant Undersecretary and Director of Abu Al Abyadh Island.

Although Crab Plovers are not globally threatened, they are listed as a priority species for the Central Asian Flyway Action Plan for Waterbirds. Crab Plovers are unique because they dig burrows, almost like a nesting chamber, in order to lay their single egg.

They derive their name from the fact that their favorite food is crabs. The availability of their favored food is a big factor in their selection of a nesting site. They breed during the summer and start arriving at their breeding sites from mid to late April and remain there until July-August when their chicks fledge.

During the breeding season in 2004, 311 active nests were recorded from this new site and during the current breeding season there were already 588 nests by May.

Most of the nests were occupied and birds were already incubating. The old nesting colony was also active with 145 nests and many were in the process of being built.

Through ERWDA, the UAE is demonstrating its commitment to conserving this important species, and at the same time fulfilling its obligation for the implementation of the Action Plan for Waterbirds.