Al Watbha Wetland Reserve was established in 1998 as a protected area by Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan to protect flamingos and wetland biodiversity.
Biological monitoring of important elements in the wetland reserve is regularly carried out to understand trends and status.
In the last week of December 2013, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) counted over 3,000 Greater Flamingos, the flagship species at the reserve.
Other prominent species that can be seen in the reserve are Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, Shoveller Anas clypeata, Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis and Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus, Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus and the Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
Regular breeding of Greater Flamingos and presence of many other species in large numbers is an indication of suitable habitat conditions in the area, Dr. Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD, told Gulf News. “We will continue to monitor and improve the habitats of the reserve to ensure that suitable habitats continue to be available to flamingos and other species,” she added.
