Members of the Laboratory and Society are one of the most experienced field ornithologists, honourable and enthusiastic young researchers for the country. They have been working not only bird taxonomy, ecology and conservation also plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals in Mongolia. It means that we have great opportunity to conduct complex study such as ecosystem and community levels.
We would like to collaborate with domestic and foreign individuals, institutes and universities on any topics of bird research and conservation in Mongolia and different countries. By now, we need to conduct urgently the following research works;
Mongolian steppe is an unique vast and less-touched ecosystem.
Upland
buzzard, Steppe Eagle and Golden Eagles
are
the commonest and widely
distributed birds of prey in Mongolian steppes. The role of these
raptors to Mongolian steppe was not clearly known due to lack of detailed
field surveys in Mongolia. Recent years, human impacts to the
steppe such as overgrazing, overhunting, mining, and usage of chemicals
are becoming serious. Such anthropogenic impacts strongly influenced to
steppe raptors in Mongolia including Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius, Steppe
Eagle Aquila nipalensis,
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, Black Vulture Aegypius monachus,
Lesser Kestrel and Common Kestrel in Mongolia. Specially migration of
Upland buzzard, Steppe Eagle, Golden Eagle, Common and Lesser Kestrels
from Mongolia is still unknown for ornithologists all over the World.
Any subject of biology, ecology of the species and relationship between
other raptors and community members have poorly studied in the World due
to limited distribution and breeding sites. Upland Buzzard is playing a
role of top predator for the steppe and poorly known species. This
means that results of detailed scientific study will be always new for
raptor research of the World. We will appreciate to work together
to know this secret bird taxonomy, breeding biology, behaviour ecology,
diet study and other aspects of the species.
Saker Falcon is one of the commonest breeding bird in the steppe and trading species for Mongolia to Arabian countries. Since 1993, Mongolian government has started to export to Middle East countries. Illegal and legal trading in Mongolia are the main threat for Saker population in the country. Gomboo finished his PhD thesis on Saker falcon in Mongolia. If you need more information click here (MONGOLIAN and RUSSIAN abstract cover) and download his PhD abstract in Mongolian and Russian.
Upland
Buzzard and Saker Falcon play significant role to reduce the Brandt's vole,
which is small rodent and main prey of the steppe raptors. Saker
falcon and Upland Buzzard prefer to nest on the ground, cliffs, trees, and artificial substrates such as high power electric pylons, 4 legged electric poles,
telegraph poles and abandoned buildings. Mortality rate of nestlings and
fledglings on artificial and natural sites due to predation and linemen
impact. Reducing of the mortality and supporting the breeding
success
of steppe raptors was to erect nest platforms in the steppe and poles and pylons of
high power electric line and telegraph poles. In Mongolia,
first well organized and proposed
nest platform erecting was and supported initiated by the National Avian Research
Institute UK, Ornithological Laboratory, Mongolian Ornithological
Society and UNDP in
Mongolia. More nest platforms are needed to establish in the
Mongolian steppe in order to reduce the mortality and conservation of steppe
raptors. We have 4 years working experiences of selection of study
areas, designing of artificial nests and establishment and cooperation with
local administration.
Mongolia and Russia are
one of the biggest and significant breeding sites
of Eastern Red-footed or Amur
falcon
in the World. This small falcon is also poor known species in the
World. Between 2000-2002, members established
2 study areas in North Mongolia and obtained data on breeding biology,
ecology and behaviour of the species together
with German colleagues. Amur falcon nests in forested areas of Gobi,
North, Central and East Mongolia. App. more than 100 breeding pairs were
found in North Mongolian study area. Specially it's migration route is
not clear for the country. Team members keen to continue this species
investigations in Mongolia comparing past studies in North Mongolia. Results of the research work
will be significant for conservation of this species and as well as
forest steppe ecosystems.
Urgent field surveys of the
distribution, habitats, population size, breeding biology, ecology, and
conservation plan for Great Bustard and Houbara Bustard are
needed in Mongolia. In Mongolia, Great Bustard was a historically common
bird before communism collapsed in Mongolia. After politic-economical
changes in Mongolia, hunting has been seriously pressured to the population
all over Mongolia. Recent years, wintering individuals of Great bustard
recorded in Central Mongolia depending on snow coverage. But migration route
of the species are unclear in the country.
We need to train young
researchers for shorebird/Wader study in Mongolia. Eastern
Mongolia is located in migration
route and stopover sites of waders of South East and Australian flyways.
Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus is one of the characteristic and abundant
breeding waders in hard and dry ground in the Mongolian desert steppe.
Comparative biology, ecology and migration studies are needed to understand
and
conserve this poor known wader.
Bar-headed Goose, Swan Goose, and Greylag Goose are common breeders in Mongolia. Based on field surveys of breeding biology, distribution, population estimation, migration, and population threats, the conservation activities of Mongolian Geese will be planned.