Socotra Cormorants Use Musandam Governorate as Feeding Station

Khasab, 25 Aug (ONA) --- Musandam Governorate serves as one of the most prominent seasonal stations for the Socotra cormorant, locally called (Lawwah), a bird belonging to the threatened cormorants that are endemic to the Arabian Gulf, the south-eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra Island in Yemen.

Socotra cormorant often migrates to the west, as far as the Red Sea coast, and breeds in the Socotra Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Eng. Noora Abdullah Al Shehhi, Head of the Environment Conservation Section at Musandam Governorate’s Environment Department, said that Socotra cormorants inhabit the rocky areas and sandy beaches of Musandam from May to September every year.

During this period, the birds feed heavily on the abundant quantities of sardines that appear in the area, said Eng. Noora, noting that approximately 45,000 cormorants visited the area last year.

Eng. Noora pointed that the species of birds (Socotra cormorants) was given that name due to the fact that it was registered for the first time on the island of Socotra in Yemen.

“Adult Socotra cormorants have black feathers, while the feathers of juvenile birds are brown. Socotra cormorants are distinct for their slender neck and white belly. An adult bird grows to a length of 80 centimetres,” Eng. Noora explained.

She added that the Environment Authority (EA) is making efforts to follow up the activities of different types of migratory birds. The EA conducts field surveys and studies and monitors any human infringements on the species, said Eng. Noora, noting that Socotra cormorants face many challenges, including marine pollution, the development of coastal areas and fishing.

--- Ends/Bishara/AG