10 flamingos tagged, freed for a conservation 'birdathon' event in Abu Dhabi

Al Wathba is an important reserve in Abu Dhabi for both migratory and permanent flamingo populations. - Photo by Ryan Lim

As part of its Year of Zayed initiatives, Etihad Airways launched the Abu Dhabi Birdathon for 10 Greater Flamingos on Tuesday. The birds have been tagged and released at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve and the one that will migrate the farthest by March 4, 2019, will be declared the winner.
The initiative will track migratory birds and preserve wetland conservation.
The Abu Dhabi Birdathon is intended to celebrate the Year of Zayed by honouring and commemorating the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's deep connection to sustainability, including the commitment to wildlife protection and habitat conservation.
Al Wathba is an important reserve in Abu Dhabi for both migratory and permanent flamingo populations and the only wetland in the UAE where the flamingo birds breed.
The Abu Dhabi Birdathon is a joint initiative by Etihad Airways and the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi. It involves catching, tagging and releasing 10 flamingos to enable the tracking of these migratory birds and help raise awareness about wetland conservation. Several other institutions, including the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), Masdar, Adnoc and First Abu Dhabi Bank also participated in the event by tagging their own flamingos. Etihad Airways Engineering and Etihad Cargo also tagged birds to enter the event.
Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: "We are thrilled to launch this project with the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi to honour a great visionary's passion for wildlife release programmes.
"As these beautiful birds take flight, satellite transmitters will not only allow us to observe their migratory patterns as they travel towards the Caspian Sea, but also preserve the emirate's rich biodiversity."
Over the next four months, the flamingos are expected to migrate to breeding grounds over 4,000 kilometres away in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, with www.adbirdathon.ae tracking their journey home.
Dr Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, executive director of the terrestrial and marine biodiversity sector, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, said: "We have been tagging and tracking migratory birds since 2005 and the information collected has helped us identify areas of conservation significance for these birds.
"Today, the Abu Dhabi Birdathon is our way of sharing a passion for conservation with our strategic partners while paying tribute to our founding father's vision."
Wathba: Rare site for a nature trip
In 1998, the late Sheikh Zayed observed the successful breeding of the Greater Flamingo for the first time in Abu Dhabi. His passion for the environment inspired him to set up Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, which is now home to more than 4,000 Greater Flamingos.
The five-sq-km wetland reserve is home to 260 species of birds, including flamingos. The reserve also consists of several different habitats, including a fresh water lake, saline lakes, tall reed marshes, gravel plains, sand dunes and sabkha.
The protected area has been open to the public since 2014. It's open from 8am to 4pm on Thursdays and Saturdays, from  November to April.
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