World Migratory Bird Day 2013 in Abu Dhabi, IFHC Houbara Release Program

FOCUS IS ON THE FUTURE AS HOUBARA FUND CELEBRATES WORLD MIGRATORY WORLD DAY Abu Dhabi's international efforts to save the endangered bird creates an opportunity for students Abu Dhabi, 12 May, 2013: In recognition of World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), hosted grade 5 and grade 9 students from Al Sariyah, Al Foaa, Sweihan and Abdulla Bin Rawaha schools at the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) in Sweihan. Students explored the Houbara, a bird at the centre of local culture and tradition, its migratory patterns and the international efforts IFHC is engaged in to restore sustainable, wild populations of this endangered bird. Each Student team presented their findings to ADEC and IFHC staff today. This year's theme for WMBD is that migratory birds require a network of sites if they are to prosper and the Director General of IFHC, Mohammed Saleh Al Baidani, said: "As one of the world's major conservation projects, IFHC epitomises the requirement to work globally to preserve this endangered species. Today we are actively participating in WMBD by helping to raise awareness of the network of sites across many countries needed to support migrant birds. Our continued commitment to our leaders' strategy to restore wild populations of the Houbara across its range countries -- from North East Asia to the Arabian Peninsula - is ensuring a bright future for migrant birds." Dr. Karima Matar Al Mazroui, Curriculum Division Manager at ADEC said: "The indigenous Houbara bird is an evocative theme for students to learn about as part of our national heritage. IFHC is also using cutting-edge science in its efforts to rescue the Houbara from possible extinction. We have worked in partnership with IFHC for the past two years to integrate the Houbara into the curriculum which is helping students develop the key skills of the 21st Century skills: Creativity and Innovation, Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking." The fact that school children were chosen for today's celebration reflects IFHC's long-term strategy for preserving the Houbara. Al Baidani added: "The outlook for the Houbara is not only dependant on the work IFHC is doing today, but also upon sustained future effort. By raising awareness and educating future generations on the importance of conserving the endangered bird we provide the Houbara with a better chance of survival." At the event the school children witnessed a release of Houbara into the wild with a full explanation by ecologists of the process. They were also shown presentations about the Houbara, which included information about the migration of the Houbara bustard. The event was staged with the assistance of Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and is part of IFHC's education programme, which is being integrated across schools in Abu Dhabi. This initiative is part of ADEC's mission to create a student-centred learning process, which promotes team work skills as well as "applied knowledge" and "hands on experience," explained Dr. Al Mazroui, who added that ADEC has included various projects to its science curriculum in efforts to encourage students to take part in fun educational experiences through inquiry. "Students enjoy finding information and working together as a team, which helps enhance their research skills as well as giving them more exposure to their environment. Field visits encourage students to share roles and tasks, give them more confidence while they present their findings to their classmates and help them indulge in creative activities such as short film making, writing and creating digital presentations," concluded Dr. Al Mazroui. The Asian Houbara can migrate distances of more than 4,000km each year searching for breeding sites, plentiful supplies of food and for warmer climates once their Asian breeding grounds become too cold. Ecologists from IFHC have been monitoring the migration of the Houbara since 1991 through satellite tracking. The findings from this research have provided invaluable data about this shy bird's habits and enabled IFHC to develop its world-leading breeding and release programme. -- ENDS -- Notes to Editors World Migratory Bird Day was initiated in 2006 as a part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). WMBD is a global awareness campaign to highlight the need for protecting migratory birds. It is usually celebrated in the second week of May. For more information please visit: www.worldmigratorybirdday.org For further information, please contact: Media Contact: Delphine Delire: Head Communications & Public Relations Tel: +971 2 6934732 Fax: +971 2 4463339 Email: [email protected]

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