Number of endangered birds increases in the UAE

Despite an increase in numbers, the birds are still considered endangered due to human activities, construction work, as well as predators such as rodents, cats and foxes.

The numbers of Socotra Cormorants, Plovers and Small Crowned Terns birds in Abu Dhabi is increasing, according to the Abu Dhabi Environment Authority.

The authority registered an increase in the numbers of Small Crowned Terns in Al Jurnein, Dina, Meheimat, Umm Al Qasr and Al Yasat with 59,106 pairs/couples, 49,231 of which were spotted on the island of Al Jurnein.

However, the birds are still considered endangered due to human activities, construction work, as well as predators such as rodents, cats and foxes, reported Al Ittihad, the Arabic language sister paper of The National.

As for Socotra Cormorants, the authority registered 15,000 pairs in Umm Al Qasr, Dina and Al Yasat, 11,000 of which were in Umm Al Qasr.

The authority also registered around 1,000 pairs of Plovers.