Socotra Cormorants Choose Musandam as Seasonal Feeding Ground

Muscat- The Musandam Governorate has emerged as a key seasonal feeding station for the Socotra Cormorant, a threatened bird species endemic to the Arabian Gulf, the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Socotra Island. These migratory birds also venture as far as the Red Sea and breed on the Socotra Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Engineer Noura bint Abdullah Al Shehhi, Head of the Environmental Conservation Department at the Environment Department in Musandam Governorate, noted the significant presence of these birds. "Socotra Cormorants are found along the rocky and sandy coastlines of Musandam from May to September, where they come to feed. Last year, around 45,000 cormorants were recorded in the governorate, drawn by the abundant sardine populations, their primary food source."

The Socotra Cormorant derives its name from its initial discovery on Socotra Island in Yemen. Adult birds are characterised by their black plumage, while immature cormorants sport brown feathers with a distinctive white belly. The bird's slender neck and overall length of around 80 centimetres make it easily identifiable.

The Environment Authority, under Al Shehhi’s leadership, continues to monitor the Socotra Cormorant population, conducting field studies and surveys, while keeping an eye on potential threats, including marine pollution, coastal development, and hunting, that endanger this rare species.

The protection of the Socotra Cormorant in Musandam remains a priority as the authority works to preserve the region's biodiversity amidst growing environmental challenges.