Half-way home
Nergui, Mendee and Sachokchin have made it to the Bayanur oasis in Inner Mongolia - half-way from their wintering site in Chinato their breeding grounds in northern Mongolia
April 2012
Bosoo Bustard Poached near Mining Site
Bosoo, one of the bustards whome we monitor via satellite telemetry, died on her migration south towards her wintering grounds. An investigation revealed that she had been poached near a mining site in south Gobi desert. Her transmitter was discarded not far from a road.
January 2012
Nergui reaches her wintering grounds
Nergui, a female bustard we have been
tracking since 2007, is the first of our tagged bustards to reach her wintering grounds in Central China this year. Temperatures at her wintering ground are currently 17 to 41°F (-6 to 5°C).
Meanwhile, temperatures at her breeding grounds are -6 to 21°F (-21 to -6°C).
December 2011
Two new bustards join our team
We've custom-fit backpack transmitters for two new female bustards: Bosoo and Mendee. We're looking forward to observing them on their fall migration.
July 2011
Toson bustard Predated
En route to our field site we have investigated the death of one of the bustards we have been
tracking. Feathers and bones were scattered about the site of death at a migratory stopover. Interviews with local families report an increased number of foxes following the previous winter's dzud (winter weather disaster). Dzud cause mass casualties of livestock, upon which predators then feed.
May 2011
Songuul' - a Victim of the Wild Meat trade
Songuul', a bustard we have tracked for three years, died on her wintering grounds. An
investigation located her transmitter, which had been discarded alongside a bowl and empty chemical vials. Local people spoke of "professionals" who visit the area to
poison wild birds and sell the meat to "wild meats" restaurants.
April 2011
meet Sachokchin
Our team has attached a transmitter to a new Great Bustard, named Sachokchin. This female Great Bustard has two large chicks and has begun her migration southbound into China.
September 2010
New Wing-Tagged Bustards
Our team is attaching wing tags to additional great bustards. These numbered tags allow us to monitor the movement patterns and mortality rates of individual birds. If you spot one of these birds, be sure to
contact us!
September 2010
Our Bustards are Nesting!
We have received transmissions from
two of our bustards, Nergüi and Songuul, indicating that they are now nesting. Great Bustards generally have a low reproductive rate, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that these two will successfully raise chicks this year!
June 2010
Spring Migration Has Begun!
Nergüi and Songuul have arrived in Inner Mongolia (northern China), having flown
450 km (about 300 miles) from their wintering site in central China!
April 2010
Tsengel Collides with Powerline
Patrick Carr has investigated the mortality of Tsengel - one of our bustards with a transmitter - on her wintering grounds in Central China. She died after colliding with a powerline. As heavy-bodied birds, Great Bustards are not highly maneuverable in flight, and are not able to avoid wires spotted at the last minute. Great Bustard collisions with powerlines are a common occurrence in developed Western Europe, and according to a local wildlife ranger, are becoming more frequent in China.
January 2010
Nergui and Ulaana Bustards are nesting
Transmissions indicate that bustard Nergui (fitted with a transmitter in 2007) and Ulaana (2008) have established nests!
June 2009
Bustard Mortalities in China Investigated
Our team has enlisted the help of Patrick Carr, of
Mandarin Film, to investigate the cause of mortality of Great Bustards which died in China during the winter. Travelling 900 km into a remote area of Gansu, Mr. Carr retrieved the transmitter of Tsashan, a bustard tagged in fall 2008. Observations at the site of death and extensive discussions with local people have led us to conclude that Tsashan became lost on her migration route during snowy weather. The retrieved transmitter will be attached to a new bustard this spring.
May 2009
Final Bustard Captures for 2008!
To finish out the 2008 field season, our team has captured and fitted backpack transmitters to three additional Great Bustards. They have been named Sondor, Tsashan and Mongoljin.
October 2008
Research on Bustard Dietary Requirements Begins
Our team's master's student, B. Dashnyam, has decided on the theme of "Bustard Dietary Requirements" for his masters thesis topic. He carried out pilot research this summer and began research this fall in earnest after being accepted to the National University of Mongolia's Biology Masters Program. His non-invasive research involves the analysis of insects and plants at habitat locations preferred by Mongolian Great Bustards.
September 2008
New Bustards Captured in 2008 Summer Field Season
The attachment of a satellite transmitter to a new bustard is always an exciting moment for our team. Incredibly wary, Mongolian bustards prefer to keep a 1km distance from humans and are notoriously difficult to capture. This season, our team has attached transmitters to five new birds: Songuul, Bayan, Ulaana, and Nomin.
July 2008
Tagged Bustard Sets New Long-Distance Record
Nergui Bustard, a female Great Bustard with no chicks, is setting a new long-distance flight record for Great Bustards. Beginning in Hobsgol Province, Mongolia, she has now flown over 2100 km (1700 miles) on her winter migration into Central China.
December 2007
