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Sula dactylatra | UAE National Red List of Birds

Publication
UAE National Red List of Birds
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Birds
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Sula dactylatra;(AOU 1998 + updates) and;Sula tasmani;(Christidis and Boles 1994) have been lumped as;S. dactylatra;following Christidis and Boles (2008).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is rare in the UAE, where it is found between April and November offshore. It was first recorded in May 1973 off Sha'am (Ras al-Khaimah Emirate). Since 2010, single individuals or very small groups have been recorded on 25 occasions along the coasts of Sharjah (mostly near Khor Kalba, Luluyah Beach) and Fujairah (Fujairah City, Dibba, Al Aqah) emirates;(Pedersen et al. 2017).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This strictly marine species can be found over pelagic waters far from land (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). It feeds on large species of shoaling fish, especially flying fish, but will also take large squid (del Hoyo et al. 1992). It forages by plunge-diving, followed by pursuits under water (Jennings 2010). It breeds year-round on rocky coasts and offshore islands on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Jennings 2010). While adults usually remain close to the colony, particularly young birds disperse over large distances across the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Oman and occasionally into the Arabian Gulf (del Hoyo et al. 1992, Jennings 2010, Pedersen et al. 2017).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment status criteria
D
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a very small non-breeding population in the UAE, which might qualify it for listing as Critically Endangered. The breeding population of the Arabian Peninsula is considered to be stable, and; there is potentially a high rescue effect from individuals outside of the country. Therefore, the species's status has undergone a regional adjustment down one category and is classified as Endangered at the national level.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
While the most relevant potential threat to the species in UAE waters is from oil spills, breeding colonies may be affected by a range of threats, which in turn could impact individuals that visit UAE. Collection of eggs and hunting of adults from breeding colonies (Carboneras et al. 2018) is thought to be causing slow and significant declines. Masked Boobies are sensitive to human disturbance, with visitors passing within 10-20 m causing birds to leave their nest (Borsa et al. 2010); however, this is not believed to be significantly affecting the population in the UAE. Invasive species, primarily House Rats Rattus rattus, also could pose a threat as has been noted in some parts of its range;(for example on Clipperton Island, following the eradication of feral cats Felis catus;[Pitman et al. 2005]).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
It is assessed that in 1996, the national Red List status of this species would have been the same as in this assessment.