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Annual migration of Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii from the United Arab Emirates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2010

Frédéric Launay
Affiliation:
National Avian Research Center, Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, PO Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Olivier Combreau
Affiliation:
National Avian Research Center, Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, PO Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Mohammed Al Bowardi
Affiliation:
National Avian Research Center, Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, PO Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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Summary

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The Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii is a regular winter visitor from northern breeding grounds to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but the migration routes and origin of these birds are still poorly known. Five bustards were fitted with platform transponder terminals in UAE in the winter of 1996-1997. The overall distances covered by the birds were very variable, ranging from 3,747 km to 11,938 km. The return migration date of Houbara from UAE ranged from 19 March to 2 April 1997, while the outward migration began from 10 September to 7 November 1997. The Houbara spent the summer n i different areas, namely China (north of lake Nor), Kazakhstan (Kyzyl Kum desert and north of the Aral Sea), Uzbekistan (south of the Aral Sea) and north Afghanistan. These results are the first to describe an annual cycle of migration for Houbara Bustards and should aid the development of appropriate conservation measures for this species.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Birdlife International 1999

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