Dara Island

A Bird Paradise in the Persian Gulf

Ability level Beginner

Ability level: Beginner

Dara is one of Iran's uninhabited islands in the Persian Gulf and one of the tourist attractions of Khuzestan Province. The island lies at the mouth of Khor Musa. This uninhabited island is a nesting site for terns. Dara Island, also known as Dayyereh, covers an area of about one square kilometre and lies roughly 4.5 kilometres west of Bouneh Island. Its longest diameter is about 1.8 kilometres, and its highest point is 1 metre above sea level. The island has no fresh water. Crab-plovers migrate to the islands of this area in early Khordad and leave in Mordad. The island has been declared a national park.

Dara Island is relatively flat, with two strips of sand dunes on its eastern and western sides. It covers approximately 145 hectares, and its sandy shore is of interest for its variety of crustaceans and bivalve shells. In spring, huge flocks of birds flying over the island add to its special beauty, and the green plant cover turns the island into a green carpet in the heart of the blue sea.

The climate of Dara Island is intensely tropical, and spring is particularly hot. In this season, egret and spoonbill chicks have hatched, while the terns are still sitting on their eggs. As for the crab-plovers, because of their particular style of nesting and their digging of deep, long tunnels, it is hard to tell whether they have chicks yet. Even more interesting on Dara Island is how the birds feed, which happens with a remarkable order and coordination. At low tide, when the sea water slowly recedes, the crab-plovers go to the shore and feed on crabs. At high tide, by contrast, terns are seen more than other species, bathing and fishing. According to the island's records, turtles also come to the island to lay their eggs, but unfortunately no sign of them has been seen in recent years.

Written by زهرا لنگری Last updated 06 Oct 2026