Birds of Ikh Nart Nature Reserve
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24 Тоодог 2, 2016 BIRDS OF IKH NART NATURE RESERVE 1, 2, 3, 1 Mammallian Ecology laboratory, Institute of General and Experimental Biology, MAS, Peace Avenue, 54B, Ulaanbaatar 10351 2 Mongolian Bird Watching Club, Union Building, B-802, UNESCO Str., Ulaanbaatar 14210 3Department of Biology, National University of Mongolia, Ikh Surguuliin Str., Ulaanbaatar 14201 4 Theodor-Storm-Str. 11, 25813 Husum, Germany 5 Department of Conservation Biology, Denver Zoological Foundation, 2300 Steele Street, Denver, CO 80205, USA Corresponding author: [email protected] хураангуй. д оого г г г гдд оо дооод дд, гг г дг д гг гд гг оод оо г г д 20 д ггд г о г, д д ооо гддг гоо г д д одог г оо д оог дг оо Falco cherrug, гд Aquila nipalensis оо оодо оог г Aegypius monachus г д г г д дг д түлхүүр үг. д, г, оого abstract. , , 20 , Falco cherrug, Aquila nipalensis Aegypius monachus Key words: species composition, checklist, Dornogobi Тоодог 222, 2016 Introduction , et al 2006 16 , 1, 200, , et al 200, 2010 et al 200, 201 et al 200 et al, 2006 , , , , , , Baatargal et al. 25 Study area bird taxonomy and nomenclature, we generally followed the Oriental Bird Club’s species list. We Ikh Nart Nature Reserve (Ikh Nart) was established followed IUCN’s Red List (Birdlife International in 1996 to protect 66,600 ha of rocky outcrops 2015) data base for globally threatened status of in northwestern Dornogobi Province, Mongolia the species and used the Mongolian Bird Red List (Myagmarsuren 2000; Reading et al 2011) (Gombobaatar and Monks, 2009) for regional (Figure 1). The site lies at the junction of steppe status. and semi-desert eco-zones and is an ‘island’ of rocky terrain with shallow valleys that rise from Results the surrounding gently rolling land. Climate is strongly continental and arid, characterized by Out of the 484 species of birds recorded in cold winters (to -40º C), dry, windy springs (up Mongolia (Gombobaatar et al 2011; Avibase to 25 m/s), and hot summers (to 43º C). Seven 2014), we have observed 204 species (42.1%) to types of habitats occur in Ikh Nart: dense rock, date in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve (Table 1). The low-density shrub, high-density shrub-rock mix, vast majority of species recorded in the reserve and semi-shrub steppe, forb dominated short were passage migrants (n = 126, 62.1%), followed grass steppe, tall vegetation and ephemeral by winter visitors (n = 23, 11.3%), resident water bodies (Jackson et al, 2006). Flora and breeders (n = 23, 11.3%), breeding visitors (n = fauna are represented by species of the semi-arid 13, 6.4%), vagrants (n = 8, 3.9 %), and summer regions of Central Asia, with a mixture of desert visitors (n = 1, 0.5%) (Some species fall into more and steppe biome species (Reading et al, 2011). than one category) (Table 1). Three observations Birdlife International designated the reserve as an represented new records for Mongolia, specifcally Important Bird Area (MN041) in 2004, primarily Rufous-bellied Woodpecker (Dendrocopos because of high densities of nesting Cinereous hyperythrus), Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus Vultures (Aegypius monachus) and Lesser Kestrels hottentottus), and Chestnut-fanked White-eye (Falco naumanni). (Zosterops erythropleurus) (Reading et al. 2011; Birding Mongolia blog; Ornis Mongolica 2013; Ogtonbayar et al. 2013,). The latter is an entirely new family – Zosteropidae. There were twelve (6 %) globally threatened species occur in the reserve, including three (1.4%) Endangered species – Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), and Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola) and four (1.9 %) Vulnerable species – Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga), Great Bustard (Otis tarda), Asian Houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii), and Relict Gull (Larus relictus) (Birdlife International, 2015). In addition, the Birdlife International (2015) listed fve (2.5%) species as Near Threatened – the Figure 1. Map of Ikh Nart Nature Reserve Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata), Northern Lapwing Methods (Vanellus vanellus), Red-necked Stint (Calidrus Ornithologists and bird watchers used binoculars, rufcollis) and Redwing (Turdus iliacus). Within spotting scopes and digital photographs to record Mongolia, the Greater Spotted Eagle and Relict the presence of birds in Ikh Nart on a relatively Gull are listed as Endangered, while the Bearded regular basis throughout the year, but with most Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Saker Falcon, Great observations from spring to autumn. Researchers and Houbara Bustards are listed as Vulnerable working within the reserve also recorded some (Gombobaatar et al, 2011). Near Threatened data while conducting other wildlife studies. species in Mongolia include the Falcated Duck, Location and date of observation were recorded Yellow-breasted Bunting, Common Crane (Grus during surveys and bird watching trips. For grus), and White-tailed Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus www.wscc.org.mn/mjo 26 Тоодог 2, 2016 albicilla et al, 2011 , Alectoris chukar, 1 Perdix dauurica, Charadrius veredus C. leschenaulti, , Syrrhaptes 1, paradoxus, Apus pacifcus, 1 Corvus corax, 2 1 Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Lanius isabellinus, Ardeola bacchus, Pica pica, Eremophila Pernis ptilorhynchus, brandti, Calandrella Haliaeetus albicilla, Otis cheleensis, Galerida cristata, tarda, Chlamydotis macqueenii Eremopsaltria mongolicus, Vanellus cinereus Passer montanus, Petronia petronia, , 1 1 Loxia curvirostra Asio 2016021 otus , , Aix galericulata, Aquila Acknowledgements clanga, Alcedo atthis, Tichodroma muraria, , , Monticola saxatilis, Eophona migratoria, Emberiza aureola, Emberiza chrysophrus , References , 201 , Buteo hemilasius, 16, 201 Falco cherrug, Falco naumanni, Falco tinnunculus, 201 Aquila nipalensis, Aquila chrysaetos, Aegypius monachus, Athene noctua, Bubo bubo , Milvus lineatus 201110 Salix ledebouriana Ulmus pumila F. amurensis, , , , , , F. subbuteo , 200 , Pica pica , 2 10 , , 201 , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2011 , , , , Baatargal et al. 27 Finch, C., editor. 1996. 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