Jasiira Mayhd SO - A Home for Pirates or A Home for the Birds?

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Jasira Maydh - Landsat ETM+ Image N-38-10_2000 (1:25,000)

Jasira Maydh - EVS Precision Map (1:25,000)

SO002

JASIIRA MAYDH

	Country/Territory	Somalia
	Administrative region(s)	Sanaag
	Central coordinates	47o 15' East 11o 14' North Map
	Area	45 ha
	Altitude	0 - 124m
	Criteria	A4i, A4iii

Site description Jasiira Maydh or Mait island is located in the Gulf of Aden c.13 km offshore, to the north of the town of Maydh and hence adjacent to Daalo (site SO003). It is a little over 1.5 km in length with a maximum width of 300 m and an average height of 100 m. The long axis of the island is oriented from east-north-east to west-south-west. The island is steep-sided, rising abruptly out of the sea, and along the southern face rocky buttresses alternate with scree-filled gullies while the northern face is an unbroken precipice. The rock is granitic gneiss which is covered with guano deposits, and the surface is split in places by great fissures. The island is completely lacking in vegetation and there is no fresh water except after rain, of which there is only c.50 mm per year. The island lies within an area of seasonal coastal upwelling.

Land-use and percentage cover
other	-

Birds See Box for key species. In addition, Phalacrocorax nigrogularis has been recorded while other breeding species include Phaethon aethereus, Sula dactylatra, Sterna fuscata and S. anaethetus (the latter two in 'large numbers'). In the 1940s, the numbers of breeding birds present was estimated at c.100,000, but were reported then to be declining. The breeding season is June-September, after which nearly all birds leave.

Species	Season	Year	Min	Max	Quality	Criteria
Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus)	breeding	1979	20000	20000	-	A4i
A4iii (Species group - waterbirds)	breeding	0	0	0	unknown	A4iii

Conservation issues The island has been proposed as a marine protected area. Guano is collected from the island, but traditionally only from October to April, i.e. when the birds are absent. During the breeding season the seas are generally too rough to permit boats to land, which prevents disturbance. Rats and snakes are present on the island.

Citation BirdLife International 2008 BirdLife's online World Bird Database: the site for bird conservation. Version 2.1. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. Available: http://www.birdlife.org (accessed 19/4/2009)

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Yes, I nabbed the above information from Birdlife International. It makes sense that an island would figure in as a safe habitat in the world of birds. Islands are typically safe havens for many of our feathered friends.

Mayhd town, located about 10 kms to the south of Mayhd Island is reputed to be one of many pirate strongholds along this coast of Somaliland. I suspect that if pirates use this island it would be as a shield prior to attacks on ships. May the pirates disappear and the birds remain forever.

Enjoy!