Nest Count of Breeding Waterbirds and Terrestrial Birds in Khor Musa in spring of 2015

The identification and counting of breeding species of birds in Khor Musa was carried out by total count method using a 10×40 Zais binocular and a 15×60 telescope, in spring of 2015. Sixty-five species of water birds and terrestrial birds were identified, 23 species (35.38 percent) of which were breeders. Population of breeding birds was 14455 pairs in Khor Musa in spring 2015, from which 12826 pairs (97.72 percent) had bred in Dara and Ghabre Nakhoda islands. Seven species of water birdsbelonged to four families, six species of waders and wading birds belonged to seven families and eight species of terrestrial birds belonged to eight families which bred in Khor Musa in 2015. Ghabre Nakhoda and Dara islands are sensitive habitat for breeding species especially for Sternidae and Dromas ardeola. Non-breeding population of birds (water birds and terrestrial birds) were 2181 individuals which belonged to 65 species, from which sixteen species (24.6 percent) with 595 individuals were terrestrial, 49 species (75.74 percent) with 1586 individuals (72.72 percent) were water birds. Therefore, the management and protection of Khor Musa as a sensitive habitat for breeding speciesand protection of chicks of 14455 breeding pairs of water birds, terrestrial birds and wintering species is vital.