Bu Tinah

Osprey

Introduction

Abu Dhabi is a regionally significant area for ospreys and they nest peacefully on Bu Tinah Island

Pandion haliaetus  (Linnaeus, 1758)

Occurring on every continent except Antarctica, the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), locally known as ‘Dammi’ or ‘Nisr Al Bahar’, is one of the most widespread birds of prey and a common breeding species in the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Islands of the western coast of Abu Dhabi Emirate are the major stronghold of the species in the UAE, and P. haliaetus is regarded as a regional priority species in UAE. The plumage of the osprey is generally brown above and white below, with a whitish head and a dark stripe through each eye.

The osprey forages almost exclusively for live fish, with other prey such as small mammals, injured birds, reptiles, amphibians and crustaceans forming only a very minor part of its diet. Hovering or circling at moderate height, it plunges down feet first to snatch fish from the water’s surface, sometimes even completely submerging in the process. Carrying its captured prey with its long talons, it alights on an open perch or a patch of bare ground, where the catch is consumed piecemeal.

During the breeding season, pairs form at the nest site following a dramatic courtship display. The main display involves the male flying slowly over the nest site giving screaming calls, whilst clasping fish or nesting material. The large stick nest is built near the ground or high up in a tree, on a cliff, or even just on the ground. The clutch size is usually around two to four eggs, which are incubated largely by the female over 35 to 38 days. Once hatched, the female broods and feeds the chicks, whilst the male forages for food to bring back to the nest. The young fledge at around a month and a half to two months old, but remain dependent on the parents birds for another two to three months, after which they disperse widely.

Over 75% of the Arabian Gulf’s breeding population of the osprey occurs here in Abu Dhabi Emirate, making it a regionally significant area for ospreys. EAD’s satellite tracking of young ospreys have established post-breeding dispersal of young birds to neighbouring Gulf countries.

Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and listed on Appendix II of CITES.