ABU DHABI: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) recently spotted a red-footed booby, a rare bird, during their regular monitoring on Qarnain Island in the Arabian Gulf. This bird is one of the smallest and rarest in the booby family. Although it’s common in tropical regions, it’s quite unusual to see it in this part of the world due to the absence of local populations.

The red-footed booby plays a crucial role in maintaining the marine ecosystem, feeding mainly on fish and squid. While it’s a rare sight, the species isn’t considered threatened, according to the IUCN Red List. Keeping an eye on this bird offers a unique chance to learn more about wildlife and the importance of protecting natural habitats.

Ahmed Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD, mentioned that the bird, named for its distinctive red feet, has been added to Abu Dhabi’s list of 426 bird species. He also highlighted the importance of nature reserves like Al Wathba Wetland Reserve and Bul Syayeef Marine Protected Area, which are vital for many migratory and resident birds. Al Wathba alone is home to over 260 bird species and is the only place in the Arabian Gulf where the greater flamingo breeds regularly.

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Qarnain Island, a small islet located 180 kilometres northwest of Abu Dhabi, serves as a marine oasis and a safe haven for many birds, turtles, and other wildlife. Back in 2003, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognised the island and its surrounding waters as one of 81 global reserves. These reserves are acknowledged for their focus on various environmental issues, including forest protection, freshwater, marine ecosystems, and endangered species.

The red-footed booby (Sula sula) is a large seabird from the booby family, Sulidae. While adult birds always have distinctive red feet, their plumage can vary in colour. They are strong and agile in flight but tend to be awkward when taking off and landing.

This species is widely distributed across the tropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In the Atlantic, they are primarily found in the Caribbean islands. In the Pacific, populations are mainly concentrated in the Galapagos Islands, especially on Genovesa and San Cristobal, as well as in Hawaii, particularly on Kauai. In the Indian Ocean, red-footed boobies can be seen on Aldabra, the Seychelles, Rodrigues, the Maldives, the Chagos Archipelago, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Christmas Island.

-Agencies/Wiki