Muscat: The while and the grey heron migratory birds have been spotted in Al Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve, the Environment Authority said on Monday.
Hamoud bin Khamis al Nairy, environmental systems specialist, said that nests of the two birds were found on one of the islands of the nature reserve. The white and the grey heron are among the first migratory birds to arrive at Al Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve. The birds are being tracked to spot their locations inside the reserve.
Mohammed bin Nasser al Saadi, head of the Department of Nature Reserves Development, said that Al Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve, which was declared as a nature reserve for the protection of migratory birds in 1996, comprises 9 islands containing a multitude of plants, grasses, seaweeds and white beaches that are safe haven for nesting turtles as well as local and migratory seabirds. The reserve’s marine environments contain a unique diversity of marine organisms such as marine mammals and diverse fish species.
The reserve is famous for rare coral reefs that can be sighted from the surface of the sea due to the transparency of the water in the reserve. It is one of the tourist attractions frequented by visitors from around the world due to its distinctive nature.
It is worth noting that the Environment Authority has regulated visitor’s entry to the reserve and specified the permitted activities throughout the year. As per the regulations, visitors are not allowed to enter the land from the beginning of May to the end of October every year to protect birds and other animals during the breeding period. However, camping and overnight stay are permitted in the reserve after the end of the birds nesting season. — ONA
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