The importance of North-Eastern Mongolia for migrating ... · The importance of North-Eastern...

The importance of North-Eastern Mongolia for migrating Pacific Golden Plovers

Spring 2005

Jan J. Wijmenga, Joop Jukema, Jeroen Reneerkens, Sundev Gombobaatar, B. Gantulga & S. Tserennadmid

Foundation Working Group International Waterbird & Wetland Research

WIWO report 87

2011

This report can be ordered by paying € 12 plus € 7 administration costs for each separate order, to postal giro account 2.666.009 or to ABN-Amro bank account 57.02.16.613 of Stichting WIWO, Utrecht, The Netherlands. It is important to mention the number of reports required. Postage for surface mail is included in the prices. The administration costs are required to cover the bank costs for payments from abroad. They are not due for payments from Dutch accounts.

The importance of North-Eastern Mongolia for migrating Pacific Golden Plovers

Spring 2005

Jan J. Wijmenga, Joop Jukema, Jeroen Reneerkens, Sundev Gombobaatar, B. Gantulga & S. Tserennadmid

Foundation Working Group International Waterbird & Wetland Research

Faculty of Biology, National University of Mongolia, Mongolia Mongolian Ornithological Society, Mongolia Office Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected Area, Mongolia

WIWO P.O. Box 6521 6503 GA Nijmegen The Netherlands

4

COLOPHON

Participants

Jan J. Wijmenga, Eberhard-Gwinner Str. 7, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany,

Phone +49 8157 932 230 E-mail: [email protected],

Joop Jukema, Haerdawei 62, 8854 AC Oosterbierum, The Netherlands,

Phone: +31 518 481 276, E-mail: [email protected]

Jeroen Reneerkens, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands, Phone: +31 50 363

2028, E-mail: [email protected]

Bayandonoi Gantulga, Mongolian Ornithological Society and Faculty of Biology, National

University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210646A, P.O.BOX 537, Mongolia. E-mail:

[email protected]

Sonor Tserennadmid, Mongolian Ornithological Society and Faculty of Biology, National


[email protected]

Sundev Gombobaatar, Mongolian Ornithological Society and Faculty of Biology, National


[email protected]

Foundation Working Group International Waterbird & Wetland Research (WIWO),

The Netherlands

Faculty of Biology, National University of Mongolia, Mongolia

Mongolian Ornithological Society, Mongolia

Office Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected Area, Mongolia

In cooperation with:

Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), the Netherlands

University of Groningen, the Netherlands

Financial support

This project was financed by the Royal Netherlands Embassy, through the KNIP-programme of

the Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Department.

To be cited as:

Wijmenga J.J., J. Jukema, J. Reneerkens, S. Gombobaatar, B. Gantulga & S. Tserennadmid 2011.

The importance of North-Eastern Mongolia for migrating Pacific Golden Plovers. Spring 2005.

WIWO-report 87. Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

5

Contents

1 Summary ..........................................................................................................6

1.1 English .................................................................................................................................. 6 1.2 Хураангуй ............................................................................................................................ 8

2. Introduction.................................................................................................. 10

3. Organisation ................................................................................................. 13

4. Itinerary........................................................................................................ 15

5. Description of the Area, Species and Methods...............................................17

5.1 Study area ............................................................................................................................ 17 5.2 Climate and Weather ........................................................................................................ 20 5.3 Study Species ..................................................................................................................... 20 5.4 Catching Method ............................................................................................................... 22 5.5 Data Collection .................................................................................................................. 24

6. Results ..........................................................................................................26

6.1 Catches and Numbers........................................................................................................ 26 6.2 Body Mass and Sex-ratio .................................................................................................. 28 6.3 Transmitters ...................................................................................................................... 29 6.4 Dissection of casualties..................................................................................................... 29

7. Discussion.....................................................................................................32

7.1 Catching.............................................................................................................................. 32 7.2 Counts and sex-ratio ......................................................................................................... 32 7.3 Mass change and importance of the area for refuelling ................................................. 33 7.4 Importance of future research and conservation............................................................ 34 7.6 Collaboration with the National University of Mongolia and Mongolian Ornithological Society ............................................................................................................. 35

8. Conclusion ....................................................................................................36

9. Acknowledgements.......................................................................................38

10. References...................................................................................................40

Appendix 1: List of species seen during the 2005 expedition .........................422

Appendix 2: Total number of Pacific Golden Plovers seen migrating and

number near the net .........................................................................................44

Appendix 3: Biometrics of the Pacific Golden Plovers that were caught and

ringed ...............................................................................................................45

Appendix 4: Biometrics of the dissected Pacific Golden Plovers..................... 51

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1. Summary

1.1 English

Global population estimates of Pacific Golden Plovers (Pluvialis fulva) range from as low

as 100,000 to as high as 1,000,000. Earlier reports suggest that between 4,000 and

50,000 Pacific Golden Plovers migrate through the Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected

Area in North-Eastern of Mongolia, which is an important area for numerous breeding

and migrating birds. Given these estimates, the Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected Area

may host a significant portion of the world’s population during migration.

To gain a better understanding of the stopover behaviour of Pacific Golden Plovers, and

of the importance of this area for this wader species, a Dutch-Mongolian expedition was

set up. During a 16 day period, Pacific Golden Plovers on migration were counted, caught

and measured.

Between 15 May and 30 May 2005, 323 Pacific Golden Plovers were caught. Among the

294 birds released were 174 males (of which 12, 6.9% were 2nd year birds) and 116

females (of which 8, 6.9% were 2nd year birds). During the catching period, the

proportion of males decreased from 60% to 30%. Counts of migrating birds during our

stay in the area showed three peaks of around 2.000 or more individuals. This pattern

was likely related to patterns of high winds. We observed an estimated 1.3 – 12.5%

(12.500 birds) of the world population of Pacific Golden Plover (100,000 – 1,000,000

birds), making this site an Important Bird Area category A4i (hosting >1% of the global

population) for this species.

The body mass of the Pacific Golden Plovers caught ranged from 100 to 139 g on the first

catching day to between 152 g and 182 g on the last catching day. Over the whole

catching period this corresponded to an average daily mass increase of 2.8 g. Males and

females showed very similar patterns in mass change. A similar mass increase (3.1

g/day) was found in the dissected birds. Measurements showed that this mass increase

was the result of both storage of fat and an increase of total fat-free dry-mass, with

individuals reaching fat stores of up to 40g.

7

A radio receiver was used to try and track Pacific Golden Plovers that were supplied with

a radio transmitter by O.W. Johnson on the Mariana Islands. However, no individuals

were recorded in our study area. However, even if individuals from the Mariana Islands

would migrate through the Mongol-Daguur area, the probability of tracking them would

be low due to the vastness of the area and the limited range of the receiver.

Although the wind conditions made catching difficult, we were very successful in getting

good data on numbers, sex-ratio, mass change and body condition (muscle and fat

composition) of this migratory species during stop-over in the Mongol-Daguur area. The

mass increase indicates that this area is an important stopover site for the Pacific Golden

Plovers on spring migration, with males presumably migrating earlier than females in

order to acquire territories on the breeding grounds.

Based on the results of our study, we can conclude that the Mongol-Daguur Strictly

Protected Area is an important stopover site for migrating Pacific Golden Plovers using

the area to refuel during spring migration. We suggest further studies be carried out to

get more detailed information on numbers, individual length of stay and other

population characteristics. We encourage further collaboration with the National

University of Mongolia, because local knowledge proved indispensible to the success of

this project and will be invaluable to any future long term monitoring project.

A flock of Pacific Golden Plovers. Photo by JR.

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1.2 Хураангуй

Монгол Дагуурын дархан цаазат газар нь Азийн сүвээцагаан (Pluvialis fulva) зэрэг

нүүдлийн болоод өндөглөдөг шувуудын хувьд чухал нутаг билээ. Үржлийн нутаг болох

ОХУ, Аляска хүрэх нүүдлийн замдаа дээрх зүйл шувууд нэн олон тоотойгоор Монголын

дорнод бүс нутгаар дайран өнгөрдөг юм.

Дани- Монголын хамтарсан Азийн сүвээцагааны судалгааны ажил Royal Netherlands

Embassy байгууллагын санхүүгийн дэмжлэг, Foundation Working Group International

Waterbird & Wetland Research (WIWO) байгууллагын тусламжтайгаар хэрэгжив. Нийт 16

хоногийн хугацаанд нүүдлийн үедээ дайран өнгөрч буй Азийн сүвээцагаан шувууны зан

төрхийг судлах, бусад зүйл эргийн шувуудын хувьд энэ нутгийн ач холбогдлыг тогтоохын

тулд бид шувуудыг тоолж, барин биеийн хэмжилтийг хийлээ.

2005 оны 5-р сарын 15-аас 5-р сарын 30 хүртэл 16 хоногт нийт 323 бодгаль Азийн

сүвээцагаан шувууг барив. Эдгээрээс 174 нь эр (12 нь хоёр настай), харин 116 нь эм (8 нь

хоёр настай) шувууд байлаа. Шувуу барих хугацаанд эр бодгалийн эзлэх хувь 30%-аас

60% хүртэл буурав. Хоёр мянга, түүнээс олон бодгалиас тогтсон нийт гурван том сүрэг

бидний тооллогын талбайгаар дайрч өнгөрсөн нь салхины хурд, чиглэлээс хамаарсан байх

талтай. Бидний тооллогоор энэ бүс нутгаар Азийн сүвээцагааны дэлхийн популяцийн 5.9-

7.5% (12.500 бодгаль) нь дайрч өнгөрөв (дэлхийн популяци 166.000 –213.000 бодгаль;

Johnson 2003)

Азийн сүвээцагааны биеийн жин нүүдлийн эхний хоногуудад 100-139 грамм, харин

сүүлчийн өдрүүдэд 152-182 граммаар хэлбэлзэнэ. Энэ үзүүлэлтийг барилт хийсэн нийт

хугацаагаар тооцвол биеийн жин нь дунджаар нэг хоногт 2.8 граммаар өсдөг нь эр, эм

шувуудад ижил ажиглагдав (fig. 2). Иймэрхүү биеийн жингийн өсөлт (3.1 грамм/хоног)

тусгаарлан хэмжсэн шувуудын хувьд ч илрэв. Биеийн жингийн өсөлт нь шувууны биед өөх

хуримтлагдах, биеийн хуурай жингийн нийт чөлөөт-өөхний хэмжээ ихсэх явц (бодгалийн

өөхний хуримтлал 40 грамм)-ын үр дүн болно.

Азийн сүвээцагааны нүүдлийн замыг тандан тогтоох зорилгоор Мариан арлуудын судлаач

О.В.Жонсоны өгсөн радио долгион дамжуулагч багажийг ашигласан ч судалгааны талбайд

радио дамжуулагчтай шувуу олдсонгүй. Гэхдээ Мариан арлуудаас гарсан шувууд Монгол

9

Дагуураар дайран өнгөрдөг байлаа ч тэдгээрийг радио долгион дамжуулагчийн

тусламжтай илрүүлэх боломж бага нь шувуудын тоо толгой харьцангуй цөөн, нүүдэл

өргөн уудам нутгийг хамардаг, мөн радио долгион хүлээн авагчийн долгион хүлээн авах

зай хязгаарагдмал байдагтай шууд холбоотой.

Хаврын хавсарга шуурга шувууг барихад сөрөг нөлөө үзүүлж байсан ч Монгол Дагуурын

дархан цаазат газарт энэ зүйл шувууны тоо толгой, хүйсийн харьцаа, биеийн жингийн

өөрчлөлт, физиологийн зарим үзүүлэлтийг амжилттай судлан тогтоолоо. Биеийн жингийн

өсөлтийн үзүүлэлт нь энэ бүс Азийн сүвээцагааны хувьд хаврын нүүдлийн үедээ дайрч

өнгөрдөг чухал нутаг төдийгүй үржлийн нутгаа олох, тодорхойлоход онцгой үүрэгтэй эр

бодгалиуд эмээсээ түрүүлж нүүдэллэн ирдэг болохыг харуулж байна.

Энэхүү судалгааны үр дүнгүүдэд тулгуурлан Монгол Дагуурын дархан цаазат газар бол

Азийн сүвээцагаан шувууны нүүдлийн үедээ дайран өнгөрч, хүчээ сэлбэх чухал нутаг мөн

гэж дүгнэж байна. Цаашид энэ чиглэлийн судалгааг үргэлжлүүлэн, тэдгээрийн тоо толгой,

тухайлсан бодгалийн хүчээ сэлгэх хугацааг тогтоох зэрэг популяцийн бусад үзүүлэлтийг

нарийвчлан судлах шаардлагатай гэсэн саналыг дэвшүүлж байгаа бөгөөд судалгааны

ажлыг амжилттай гүйцэтгэхэд хамтарсан Монгол улсын их сургуультай цаашид хамтран

ажиллахыг бүрэн дэмжиж байгаа юм.

Tserennadmid and Gantulga observing birds.

Photo by JW.

10

2. Introduction

In the spring of 2005, a Dutch-Mongolian team went on an expedition to investigate

the importance of the North-Eastern Mongolian grasslands for migrating Pacific

Golden Plovers (Pluvialis fulva). The Mongol-Daguur area lies within the Dornod, a

province in the north-east of Mongolia, and is dominated by grasslands (fig. 1). These

vast grasslands are grazed by numerous herds of cows, sheep, goats, camels and

horses. The north of the province, characterised by a number of lakes and the Ulz

river, embedded in the gently sloping hills, has been protected since 1992. The

Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected Area (103,000 ha, 49˚45‘N, 115˚30‘E) is part of

the Dauria International Protected Area and is especially renowned for the great

numbers of migratory waders and waterfowl, and for six crane species present during

the breeding season and during spring and autumn migration. A number of these

species are listed under the IUCN “Critically Endangered” category.

Figure 1. Map of Mongolia, showing the Dornod province in the northeast. The Mongol-Daguur

Strictly Protected Area is found north of Choibalsan (shown in green).

The Pacific Golden Plover is among the species of shorebirds using this area. This

bird is known to winter across a wide geographic range, extending from East-Africa

to as far east as the Hawaiian archipelago. It breeds on the high arctic tundra from

the Taimyr Peninsula (Russia) in the west, to Alaska (United States) in the east

(Byrkjedal & Thompson 1998). Although previous reports have suggested that during

both spring and autumn migration, a substantial part of the world population passes

11

through the Mongol-Daguur area (Johnson 2003, Ketzenberg & Leyer unpubl. report,

Goroshko unpubl. data), detailed studies have yet to be carried out, and

consequently, the importance of this site in terms of numbers of Pacific Golden

Plovers and their refuelling opportunities remain unclear.

The Dutch participants of the team, previously involved in research on both the

American Golden Plover (P. dominica) and the Eurasian Golden Plover (P.

apricaria), became interested in this particular migration site by reports from both

German and American researchers, which suggested that between 4,000 and 50,000

Pacific Golden Plovers may pass through this area during migration (Johnson 2003,

Ketzenberg & Leyer unpubl. report). Given that global population estimates range

from as low as 100,000 to as high as 1,000,000 (Johnson et al. 2010), the Mongol-

Daguur Strictly Protected Area potentially hosts a significant proportion of the world

population. To extend the knowledge on the migration of the Pacific Golden Plovers,

as well as to investigate the importance of the Mongol-Daguur area for this species

during migration, an expedition to this site was necessary. Since American

researchers equipped a number of Pacific Golden Plovers with radio transmitters on

wintering sites in the Pacific Ocean early 2005, it was especially interesting to try to

track these marked birds on their migration through the Mongol-Daguur area.

The Foundation Working Group International Waterbird & Wetland Research

(WIWO) managed to get funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Beijing.

With the help of Dr. Sundev Gombobaatar, professor at the National University of

Mongolia, and in cooperation with the Faculty of Biology, National University of

Mongolia, the Mongolian Ornithological Society and the Mongol-Daguur Strictly

Protected Area, the WIWO expedition to the Mongol-Daguur area was organised.

During a 16 day period, from 15 May to 31 May 2005, Pacific Golden Plovers were

observed and caught for detailed investigations. These catches and observations

yielded valuable information on numbers, mass change, and fat and muscle

composition of this migratory species during stop-over in the Mongol-Daguur area.

In this report, an overview of the findings of the expedition are presented. In

addition, popular publications have already appeared in the NRC (Dutch national

12

newspaper), Vogelnieuws (magazine of VBN, BirdLife Netherlands) and Vanellus

(journal of the Society of Frysian Bird Protection)

Resting camels, with grazing horses in the background. Photo by JW.

13

3. Organisation

This project was financed by the Royal Netherlands Embassy, through the KNIP-

programme of the Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Department. When the

Foundation Working Group International Waterbird & Wetland Research (WIWO)

informed the Royal Netherlands Embassy on this expedition, it recognised the value

of such an expedition, and encouraged us to have two Mongolian students join. This

would indeed appear to be a good opportunity to familiarize the Mongolian

participants with ecological research and facilitate cultural exchanges. Additionally,

the knowledge of the local culture, terrain, and administrative organizations on the

part of our Mongolian counterparts would prove to be invaluable to the success of

this expedition.

Two German researchers, Jutta Leyrer and Ute Bradter, who had previously been

involved in crane and waterfowl monitoring in North Eastern Mongolia, helped us get

in touch with Prof. Dr. Sundev Gombobaatar. Prof. Dr. Gombobaatar, director of the

Mongolian Ornithological Society and professor of the National University of

Mongolia, supported us by organizing the necessary permits for carrying out research

in the Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected Area. Additionally, he organised transport,

food supplies and cooking equipment. As such, in cooperation with the Mongolian

National University, Mongolian Ornithological Society and the office of the Mongol-

Daguur Strictly Protected Area, an expedition to the Mongol-Daguur area was

organised.

The team consisted of two Dutch researchers (Joop Jukema and Jeroen Reneerkens),

one Dutch student (Jan Wijmenga) and two Mongolian students (S.Tserenadmid and

B.Gantulga). We were further supported by B. Delgermaa, a senior researcher of the

Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected area administration and member of the Mongolian

Ornithological Society, who acted as a guide and translator, and two drivers

(B.Batnyamsuren and N.Enkhjargal).

Based on data from previous surveys, showing that the Pacific Golden Plovers were

present mainly in the second half of May (Ketzenberg & Leyrer, unpubl. report) and

that birds begin arriving at the breeding grounds from the first week of June onwards

14

(Tulp & Schekkerman 2001), the expedition was planned to start at the 10th of May

and to last until the 4th of June, including travel.

Besides the nine days needed for organisation and travelling within Mongolia, 16

days were spent in the Mongol-Daguur area. During this period, time was mainly

spent catching and counting Pacific Golden Plovers.

The drivers and their durable cars handled the trip along the tracks through the vast grasslands very

well. Photo by JW.

15

4. Itinerary

The Dutch members of the expedition departed from Amsterdam on 10 May 2005.

Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar the following morning, they were welcomed by Prof. Dr.

Sundev Gombobaatar of the National University of Mongolia and B. Batnyamsuren,

one of the two drivers. We spent some time at the University, where we met the dean

of the Biology faculty, Prof. Dr. M.Tsogbadrakh. The collaboration between the

National University of Mongolia and the WIWO team was discussed, as well as some

general rules of conduct. Prof. Dr. Gombobaatar, who had prepared a lot in advance,

helped with the last preparations and introduced the Mongolian counterparts,

S.Tserenadmid and B Gantulga. The next day, the team met the other driver,

N.Enkhjargal, and purchased food supplies and other materials. At about noon, the

seven of us left for Choibalsan.

When we arrived in Choibalsan two days later, we met our guide and senior

researcher of the Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected area administration,

B.Delgermaa. In the building of the Office Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected Area she

informed us of the locations and status of the protected areas and the activities of the

office. The following day we took in additional food supplies and left for Khukh Nuur,

a lake located in the south of the protected area. We arrived there in the evening.

The next morning, 15 May, we started catching immediately after seeing some flocks

of Pacific Golden Plovers. Although not yet familiar with the catching method, the

Mongolian counterparts were very keen in helping to prepare the ‘wilsternet’, a net

especially designed for catching golden plovers. Once the net was installed, the

waiting started. Would this age-old method succeed here in Mongolia? Within an

hour or so it proved to be very effective: the first catch had been made! As more

catches followed, close to 50 Pacific Golden Plovers were caught that day. The high

number of birds caught gave the Mongolian counterparts ample opportunity to

inspect the birds and to learn which measurements to take and how to take them.

In the late afternoon, for the first time during the expedition, we were confronted

with severe winds, causing problems with our tents. We tried to create some shelter

by using the cars and the windscreen that is used with the wilsternet. Since it was still

16

stormy the following day, we left for Ereentsav, a village at the Russian border. After

B. Delgermaa got us a permit for entering the area, we met with the local ranger to

ask him about the Pacific Golden Plovers. After this informative meeting, concerning

arrival dates and good catching locations, we continued for Huh Nuut Nuur, a large

lake extending into Russia and reported to be a good site for Pacific Golden Plovers.

Because we saw only a single Pacific Golden Plover there, we decided that catching

would not be worthwhile, and we continued to yet another lake further west. Here we

witnessed the drivers slaughter a sheep according to the Mongolian traditions. The

intestines are considered to be the best part and are consumed first. The dry and

windy climate enables storage of meat in the open air. As such, the rest of the sheep

was stored on the rack on top of one of the cars, and provided food for another five

days. Therefore, two sheep provided enough meat for the whole field trip. The

cooking was usually done by the Mongolian counterparts, allowing the team to

continue catching throughout the day.

As no Pacific Golden Plovers were seen at this site either, we headed back to the first

site, Khukh Nuur. There, good numbers of birds were caught between the 21st and

24th of May. Once again driven away by severe storm, we headed for Galuut Nuur, a

lake with surroundings that seemed to provide a perfect habitat for Pacific Golden

Plovers. From 26 - 30 May, good numbers of Pacific Golden Plovers were caught at

that location.

The team left for Choibalsan 31 May, where the guide was dropped off. The next day

the remaining team members continued to Ulaanbaatar, where we arrived on the

afternoon of 2 June. One more day was spent in the capital to finish up business and

to organise a cargo transport for the catching material. In the early morning of 4

June, the Dutch team members left for Amsterdam, where they arrived at midnight.

17

5. Description of the Area, Species and Methods

5.1 Study area

The Mongol-Daguur area mainly consists of vast grasslands, in a rolling, hilly

landscape. Scattered across are a number of lakes and the Ulz river (fig. 3). These

water sources are of great importance for the several species of breeding birds, as well

as for thousands of migratory birds. Among these, the shorebirds, waterfowl and

cranes are the most important. Although very little is known about exact migration

routes and schemes of birds on this branch of the East Asian-Australian Flyway (fig.

2), it is assumed that the Mongol-Daguur area is an important refuelling site for

many species. Observations of thousands of birds, of numerous species, stopping over

at these wetlands support this idea (e.g. see Goroshko, unpubl. data, Ketzenberg &

Leyer unpubl. report).

Figure 2. The three main flyways of Asia and Australia, with the East Asian-Australian Flyway shown

in blue.

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Alaska

18

In 1992, the national government established the Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected

Area to protect and preserve the steppe environment and its plant and animal

species, including breeding and endangered bird species. Since 1994, this 103,000 ha

reserve is part of the Dauria International Protected Area, which also includes the

Daursky Biosphere Nature Reserve (Russia) and the Dalai-Nuur reserve (China). This

reserve is renowned for the great numbers of migratory waders and waterfowl, and

the six crane species present during the breeding season and during spring and

autumn migration. A number of these species are listed under the IUCN “Critically

Endangered” category. In 1997, a 210,00 ha area, overlapping with the Mongol-

Daguur Strictly Protected Area, got listed as a wetland of international importance

under the Ramsar convention, the first of its kind in Mongolia. Birdlife international

has designated the area with the A1, A3 and A4i global Important Bird Area (IBA)

criteria, holding globally threatened species, biome restricted species, as well as

regularly holding over 1% of biogeograpical populations of waterbird species

respectively.

Traditional gers (nomadic tents) are found spread over the grasslands. In 1996, an

estimated 60 families with 230 persons live in the Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected

Area. The semi-nomadic families herd their cattle on the grasslands, keeping the

vegetation short year-round. This grazing of the vegetation creates an ideal habitat

for the Pacific Golden Plover, which forages on ground-dwelling insects and larvae by

eye-sight.

The numerous lakes and the Ulz river provide good feeding and roosting

opportunities for the many migratory bird species using the area. The constant

evaporation during the dry season creates white salt crusts on the shores of most

lakes, and many saline plant species grow along these shores.

19

Figure 3. The study area located in the Mongol-Daguur Strictly Protected Area (49˚45‘N, 115˚30‘E).

Most Pacific Golden Plovers were seen at Khukh Nuur and Galuut Nuur Lake, the two locations where

all birds where caught.

20

5.2 Climate and Weather

During the stay, weather conditions varied from somewhat cloudy while driving to

the site, to very sunny weather, with day time temperatures ranging between 20 and

25˚ C. During the night, temperatures would drop to just a few degrees above zero.

In general there was little wind during the night. Typically, winds would begin to

increase in force by about 09h00. Catching could not begin until winds were

constant, in both direction and speed, given that the catching method relied heavily

on the wind (see section 4.4). Although the wind was usually northerly, it was quite

variable in both direction and speed. On a few occasions it went from absolutely calm

to heavy storm (an estimated 10 on the Beaufort scale) within a few minutes.

Catching was impossible on a number of days because of such stormy conditions.

In contrast, the team was not hindered by rain. This area is generally quite dry this

time of the year. There was only one morning with a few hours of rain. Conversations

with locals revealed a general impression on their part that conditions have been

getting dryer over the last decade. Local herders told us that they are concerned by

this decline in rainfall, since grassland vegetation, the food supplies for the cattle,

have also declined. This change in precipitation will also affect lakes and the Ulz river

and subsequently all the animals, both domestic and wild, that rely on it. While we

were there, we observed that a number of smaller lakes were completely dry.

5.3 Study Species

The Pacific Golden Plover is known to winter from coastal California and across

much of the insular Pacific to Australia, southeast Asia, India, and northeast Africa.

The breeding range extends from the Yamal Peninsula, Russia, to western Alaska,

United States (Johnson et al. 2010). Migration routes of the Pacific Golden Plover

include transcontinental routes across central and western Asia, including the

Mongol-Daguur area (see Johnson et al. 2010). The global population is estimated at

between 100,000 and 1,000,000 (Johnson et al. 2010 and references therein). There

21

is no consensus as to whether or not the population is in decline. Some studies have

reported declines while others report the trend as unknown (see Johnson et al. 2010).

During a four year period, from 1993 to 1996, the first water bird surveys were done

in the Mongol-Daguur area. Preliminary counts indicate that as many as 50,000

Pacific Golden Plovers may pass through this area (Goroshko, unpubl. data). Given a

global population size of 100,000 to 1,000,000 (Johnson et al. 2010 and references

therein), conservatively, this estimate suggests that the Mongol-Daguur area may

host up to 5% of the world population during migration. However, counts have

differed markedly between studies. Ketzenberg & Leyrer (unpubl. report) counted

approximately 4,000 Golden Plovers during a single survey between 24 and 27 May

2000. On other days during the same period, hardly any Pacific Golden Plovers were

observed by the German-Mongolian team. A census of the Royal Society for the

Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Mongolian Ornithological Society in the spring of

2004 recorded only 536 Pacific Golden Plovers, the majority of which were observed

on a single day, 14 May 2004 (Badley et al., 2005). These highly variable estimates of

the number of Golden Plovers migrating through the Mongol-Daguur emphasize the

need for current and precise counts. Additionally, the importance of this site in terms

of refuelling opportunities remains unknown.

The challenge was to find out how many Pacific Golden Plovers pass through during

spring migration and whether they just pass by, or use the area to refuel. This

assessment could be done by counting migrating and foraging flocks and by taking

measurements of birds caught. In particular, changes in body mass of the birds

during their stay would inform us of the significance of the area as a refuelling site.

The northward migration of the Pacific Golden Plover from the Mongol-Daguur area

to the breeding grounds of Northern Siberia covers another two-thousand kilometres,

and requires either a number of subsequent stops, or a significant build-up of fat and

protein reserves in the Mongol-Daguur area to complete their journey to the breeding

grounds.

22

Pacific Golden Plovers, the female (left) is more dull coloured compared to the bright coloured male on

the right. Photos by JR.

5.4 Catching Method

Birds were caught using a ‘wilsternet’. This wind-assisted net is traditionally used in

the meadows in the northern part of the Netherlands to catch Eurasian Golden

Plovers (P. apricaria; see Jukema et al. 2001). ‘Wilsterflappen’ (i.e. catching using a

wilsternet) therefore seemed to be a suitable method for catching this closely related

species in a similar landscape. Moreover, JJ is very experienced in catching with a

wilsternet, as he caught many Eurasian Golden Plovers throughout the course of his

research on this species. In the past, even Pacific Golden Plovers have been caught by

wilsterflappers in The Netherlands. However, perhaps due to the disappearance of a

large intertidal area, such records have become very scarce since 1940 (Jukema 1987,

Jukema et al. 2002).

The catchers wait behind a hide at about 30 metres distance from the net, with a

pulling line attached to it. Besides dummy birds and a whistle to imitate the bird

calls, a speaker setup playing recorded calls of the Pacific Golden Plover was used to

attract the birds. Magnus Robb allowed us to use recordings that had been made in

the Sound Approach program. When attracted birds approach the dummy birds, and

are about to land (always with head-wind), the net gets pulled over, its speed partly

23

generated by the tailwind. After removal of the birds from the net, the net is re-

installed and the catchers head back to the hide to continue catching and to handle

the birds. With strong winds an elastic cord is used as a brake, to avoid caught birds

hitting the ground at high speed. A more elaborate description of this catching

method and anecdotes on catches of Pacific Golden Plovers in the Netherlands can be

found in Jukema et al. (2001).

A successful catch. Photo by JR.

24

5.5 Data Collection

During the field work, most time was spent catching and handling birds. Each bird

was supplied with a Dutch metal ring, after which sex and age were determined by

plumage characteristics. Biometrics, such as wing length and body mass were taken,

as well as a small blood-, feather- and preen wax sample. The latter samples may, in

the future, yield interesting information on population structure and preen-wax

usage.

During the day, passing plovers were monitored and assigned to be either locally

foraging or migrating flocks. Behaviour of migrating flocks, such as flock size, bearing

(direction of movement) and approximate height of each flock was recorded.

In early 2005, O.W. Johnson (Montana State University) equipped 34 Pacific Golden

Plovers on the Mariana Islands (East of the Philippines in the Pacific Ocean) with

transmitters to gain knowledge on the migration routes and timing of these birds (see

e.g. Johnson et al. 2004 for details). This gave us an opportunity to find out whether

these wintering birds migrate through the Mongol-Daguur Area en route to the

breeding grounds. Therefore, whenever we saw birds passing or foraging, we checked

for signals with a portable receiver.

We experienced some casualties during catching. Casualties were dissected within

two days. Internal organs were collected and the length of digestive tract was

measured. Deposited body fat was collected and weighed.

During the field period, the Mongolian counterparts were eager to learn about the

methods used in this type of ecological research. They thoroughly studied the

methods and put their new knowledge into practice by helping with the catching and

by measuring and dissecting birds themselves.

25

Joop Jukema handling a bird, while Jeroen Reneerkens counts passing birds from

behind the windscreen. Photo by JW.

26

6. Results

6.1 Catches and Numbers

During the period in the field area, from the 15 May through 30 May 2005, 323

Pacific Golden Plovers were caught. Of the 294 birds released, 174 were males (of

which 12, 6.9%, were 2nd year birds) and 116 were females (of which 8, 6.9%, were

2nd year birds). We were unable to determine sex based on plumage characteristics

for 4 adults.

After the first day, when good numbers (47) were caught, five days passed without

catching any birds. This was due to severe winds, starting in the evening of 15 May,

and the subsequent absence of birds. From 21- 24 May, high numbers were caught,

with a peak catch of 87 birds on the 23rd. Once again stormy weather kept us from

catching for a number of days. However, between the 26 - 30 May, good numbers of

Pacific Golden Plovers were caught once more (fig. 4).

During the same period, we made attempts to count every flock passing by or seen

foraging, and assigned it to be either a migrating flock, or a locally foraging flock (fig.

4). These data suggest that there are three peaks in migration. However, this pattern

is probably mainly driven by the winds. We do not know if the birds actually leave the

area during the storms, or that they are just hiding at particular (roosting) sites that

we did not discover in the vast area.

27

Figure 4. Numbers of Pacific Golden Plovers seen migrating (bars) and caught (line) during spring

migration 2005 in the Mongol-Daguur area, Mongolia. There were no catching attempts on 16, 17, 18,

19, 20, 22, and 25 May due to strong winds.

Day in May

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Num

ber of observed Pacific G

olden Plovers

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Num

ber of caught Pacific G

olden Plovers

0

20

40

60

80

100

28

6.2 Body Mass and Sex-ratio

The body mass of the Pacific Golden Plovers caught on 15 May 2005 ranged from 100

to 139 g, whereas on the last catching day, 30 May 2005, the body mass ranged from

152 g up to 182 g. Over the whole catching period this corresponds to an average daily

mass increase of 2.8 g. Males and females show very similar patterns in mass change

(fig. 5). During the catching period, the proportion of males decreased from 60% to

30% (fig. 6).

Figure 5. Body mass (g) of Pacific Golden Plovers caught and released during spring migration 2005 in

the Mongol-Daguur area, Mongolia. The black dots represent females; the slope of the linear

regression is 2.8 g/day. The white dots represent males; the slope of the linear regression is 2.7 g/day.

The dots of the two sexes are offset from one another for graphical clarity.

Day in May

16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30B

ody mass (g)

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

29

6.3 Transmitters

During the field period, groups of plovers were checked for transmitters using a

hand-held receiver. However, no signals were received. Given the small number of

individuals supplied with transmitters, and the vastness of the Mongol-Daguur area,

we cannot conclude that the transmitted birds do not migrate through this area.

6.4 Dissection of casualties

Despite the use of a braking system to reduce the speed of the net in case of heavy

winds, we had 29 casualties. The average body mass of these casualties was lower

compared to the other birds. This is probably due to the fact that casualties were not

always measured directly after catching. The warm and dry weather may have caused

a significant loss of body water due to evaporation. Although this difference in body

mass could also be induced by biased sampling (i.e. a specific group of birds having a

higher chance on getting killed), this seems unlikely, as casualties are usually birds

that had too much speed when they hit the net. These birds usually tried to catch up

with the flock that is being caught. Moreover, we find a similar pattern of body mass

change, with an average increase of 3.1 g per day. Such a pattern would probably not

be found when the casualties would consist of physically compromised individuals.

As all fat was removed and measured, we could find out if this mass change was due

to either storage of fat, or to an increase of total fat-free dry-mass. Our results show

that both components contribute to the mass increase, with birds reaching fat stores

of up to 40g.

30

Figure 6. Sex-ratio of Pacific Golden Plovers in the catches during spring migration 2005 in the

Mongol-Daguur area, Mongolia. The bars represent the percentage of males (grey) and females (white)

caught each day in May.

Day in May

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Sex ratio (%

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

FemaleMale

31

Figure 4. Body mass (g) of Pacific Golden Plover casualties during spring migration 2005 in the

Mongol-Daguur area, Mongolia. Both males and females are shown, slope of the linear regression is

3.3g/day.

Day in May

16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Body m

ass (g)

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

32

7. Discussion

7.1 Catching

During a 16 day period, a substantial number of Pacific Golden Plovers were caught.

Despite frequent high winds, the catching with a wilsternet proved to be very

effective. When the wind conditions were favourable, passing birds were lured to the

net easily with both sound and dummy birds. Moreover, we felt that catching using

mist nets would not have resulted in many birds being caught, if any at all, as there

was no knowledge on the whereabouts of the birds, nor on their activity at night time

(e.g. sleeping or foraging). Additionally, wind speed most afternoons would have

been too high for a proper use of mist nets. Local people told us that it was an

exceptional windy spring. If wind conditions had been more favourable, we could

have caught even more birds with the wilsternet. Not only did the wind affect the

numbers of birds caught, but probably also the number of birds seen. It seemed as if

all the Pacific Golden Plovers disappeared from the area during and in the days

following such storms. However, we cannot tell whether the birds actually

(permanently or temporarily) leave the area after such winds, or whether they just

stay low for the duration of the storm, making them less detectable.

7.2 Counts and sex-ratio

Although the vastness of the area and time constraints due to handling caught birds

prevented us from performing systematic counts, the counts we were able to perform

nonetheless give an indication of the number of Pacific Golden Plovers migrating

through the area. Not surprisingly, the pattern of daily number of birds caught closely

followed the pattern of number of birds observed migrating. Throughout the field

period substantial numbers of Pacific Golden Plovers were seen, with several days of

over a thousand birds. On two days the numbers of Pacific Golden Plovers even

reached 2,500. Assuming no double counts, we observed 1.25 -12.5 % (12.500 birds)

of the world population of Pacific Golden Plover (100,000 -1,000,000 birds, see

Johnson et al. 2010) in the second half of May 2005. Because we were not observing

marked individuals, nor did we have recaptures, we cannot estimate turnover rates

33

(i.e. average stopover duration) of individuals, and it is possible that our population

estimate of 12,500 is inflated by repeated counts of the same individuals on multiple

days. Nonetheless, we argue that this stopover site is of major importance, given that

only one other stopover on the East Asian-Australian flyway is known to host large

numbers of Pacific Golden Plovers; the Selenga River Delta, Russia (see Johnson et

al. 2010).

During the catching period the population structure shifted from mainly males in

mid-May, to mainly females at the end of May. This suggests that males migrate

earlier than females, perhaps to acquire the best territories on the breeding grounds.

This would correspond with the finding of Klima & Johnson (2005), who found that

male Pacific Golden Plovers arrive over a week earlier on the snow covered breeding

grounds than the females.

7.3 Mass change and importance of the area for refuelling

During the catching period, the body mass of Pacific Golden Plovers increased

significantly over time with 2.8 g/d on average. A similar pattern was found in the

casualties. The dissection revealed that in both males and females fat-free

components (proteins) and fat contributed equally to this body mass increase, which

is indicative of a preparation of a long-distance migration (e.g. Piersma 1998).

Since we observed birds from the first day in the Mongol-Daguur area, up to the last

day, we do not know the exact duration of the migration period of spring 2005.

However, the measured small body masses and fat reserves of the first birds that we

caught, and the fact that Pacific Golden Plovers are known to arrive at the breeding

grounds from the first week of June onwards (Tulp & Schekkerman, 2001), suggests

that we were close to covering the whole migration period. We cannot conclude that

birds use the Mongol-Daguur area for substantial refuelling, rather than simply for

resting and drinking since we have no repeated measures of individual birds. It is

possible that heavier birds arrive later in the area, which would generate the same

pattern of mass increase throughout the study as if birds increased in body mass

during their stay. However, this seems unlikely given that the nearest known stopover

34

site to the south where birds would be able to build reserves before arriving in the

Mongol-Daguur is in Japan (Johnson et al. 2010), over 1000 km away. The patterns

of mass gain observed at our study site also mirror patterns of mass gain of migrating

Pacific Golden Plovers on Oahu, Hawaii, where birds arrive during fall migration with

a mass of circa 110 g, and depart during spring migration with masses of circa 200 g

(Johnson et al. 1989). In comparison, we estimated masses of 119 and 165 g, on the

first day and last day of catching, respectively. Again, this apparent refuelling

indicates that this is a very important stopover site for the Pacific Golden Plover.

7.4 Importance of future research and conservation

The Mongol-Daguur area is relatively remote, and has been subject to only few

studies. However, those studies that have been done, clearly show that the area is

used by numerous species of migratory bird species, as well as breeding species.

If we want to have more accurate estimates of the number of Pacific Golden Plovers

using the area, as well as get more detailed information on how they use the area,

further systematic research efforts should be made. Simultaneous counts throughout

the area, perhaps accompanied by a continued catching program, would yield a more

reliable estimate of the number of birds stopping over at the Mongol-Daguur area.

Considering the difficulties of observing birds (especially their legs in the relatively

high vegetation), we think that it would not be worthwhile to supply Pacific Golden

Plovers with colour-rings. A better option would perhaps the use of transmitters. We

did not track any of the birds that Johnson supplied with a transmitter. However, this

cannot be taken as evidence that birds from the Mariana Islands do not use this

region, as our ability to systematically track in the vast area was very limited. By

applying transmitters to birds within the Mongol-Daguur area, a clearer picture of

behaviour could be drawn by monitoring their movements throughout their stay.

Although the number of Mongolian Gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) has dramatically

declined, the grazing pressure has greatly increased by means of roaming cattle. This

actually seems to be beneficial to the Pacific Golden Plover, which prefers to forage

on such grasslands. However, in times of a global decline in shorebird numbers

35

(Delany & Scott 2006), it is very important to further assess and protect areas like

these and to investigate the effects of human induced manipulation and other factors

like climate, especially in terms of rainfall, on the value of these sites for shorebirds.

7.6 Collaboration with the National University of Mongolia and

Mongolian Ornithological Society

Planning and organising work efficiently in a remote area like the Mongol-Daguur

would not have been possible without the help of our Mongolian counterparts. The

help and support by the National University of Mongolia and the Mongolian

Ornithological Society was indispensible, not only for locating and accessing the

remote field sites, but also in obtaining local scientific permits. Apart from greatly

facilitating the expedition, the collaboration between the Dutch and Mongolian

researchers was also fruitful in terms of transferring skills and knowledge regarding

shorebird research to the Mongolian counterparts. We would like to encourage future

researchers to continue on the same route, allowing students the opportunity to

experience being part of an international research team, and to take advantage of the

opportunities the nature reserves and the National University of Mongolia provide.

36

8. Conclusion

Altogether, our results indicate that between 1.3 and 12.5% of the world population of

the Pacific Golden Plover use this site to refuel, before they continue for their

breeding grounds. Individuals reaching fat reserves of around 40g and additional

protein stores, should be able to make a big leap to, or at least close to, their breeding

grounds. Therefore the Mongol-Daguur area seems to be a very important refuelling

site for the Pacific Golden Plover en route to the breeding grounds. The body mass of

Pacific Golden Plovers observed at the end of this study were comparable to those

reported for plovers just prior migration at another site, in Oahu, Hawaii (Johnson et

al. 1989).

To get a more complete picture of this beautiful gold coloured migrant and its

dependency on the Mongol-Daguur area, more extensive surveys and additional

behavioural observations should be done in the future. Ideally, this should be done by

at least two teams, so that better data can be gathered by counting, catching, tracking,

and sampling at multiple locations simultaneously in this vast area in North-East

Mongolia. More detailed information about the wintering grounds of the birds

passing through Mongolia could be obtained by performing stable isotope or trace

element analyses on feather samples.

On expeditions such as these, knowledge of methods, techniques and study species,

as well as knowledge of the local terrain, language and culture is vital. Therefore, the

collaboration between the Dutch and the Mongolian counterparts proved to be very

successful. While the Dutch members of the team brought expertise in a specific

catching technique, the Mongolian counterparts were invaluable in providing

assistance with acquiring the necessary permits and access to the Mongol-Daguur

Strictly Protected Area as well as knowledge of local conditions, customs and

traditions. As for the future, a better understanding of this system through

collaboration of scientists in different parts of the world would be very useful in

conserving the Mongol-Daguur area, and one of its main users: the Pacific Golden

Plover.

37

The gold coloured spots on the back coverts from a male Pacific Golden Plover. Photo by JR.

38

9. Acknowledgements

First of all we would like to thank the Foundation Working Group International

Waterbird & Wetland Research for enabling this expedition. Leo Bruinzeel

encouraged us to organise this expedition. His colleagues from WIWO, Bernd de

Bruijn and Frank Willems, managed to obtain funds within a very short time and

provided comments on the manuscript. They found the Royal Netherlands Embassy

in Bejing, China, willing to fund our expedition; special thanks to the agricultural

attaché Mr. R.J. Konijn and Ms. G.J.G.M. Nuytens. By funding us they not only

enabled a successful expedition, they also stimulated Mongolian research by giving

two Mongolian students the chance to join us and learn about research and migratory

shorebirds.

Simon Busuttil (RSPB) and Axel Braunlich kindly provided us with information that

was very useful for the preparation of our expedition. Jutta Leyrer’s and Ute Bradter’s

contacts and experience with the area gave us a head start with organising the

expedition. One of their contacts, Prof. Dr. Sundev Gombobaatar, ornithologist and

professor at the National University of Mongolia, did a tremendous job by organising

logistics and the necessary documents, as well as arranging transport. Prof. Dr. M.

Tsogbadrakh, Dean of the Faculty of Biology, recognised the importance of the

collaboration with the National University of Mongolia and gave us some valuable

advice before we took off to the field site.

B. Batnyamsuren and N. Enkhjargal both proved to be very skilled drivers and good

company. They were always glad to help wherever they could. Besides helping us in

communicating with the Mongolians, B. Delgermaa also managed to deal with issues

concerning permits and some other difficulties.

Piet Vlas allowed us to use his steel wentjes, part of the wilsternet, which were very

useful in the rocky soil. Another part of the wilsternet, the loarmstokken were

fabricated by Albert Anne Mulder. The two component construction made transport a

lot easier. Piet Terpstra’s plastic luring birds performed as a real life flock of plovers

on the grasslands. Magnus Robb provided us with sound recordings of the Pacific

Golden Plover, recorded for the ‘Sound Approach’ program. Playing these recordings

39

appeared to be very effective in attracting Pacific Golden Plovers. Douwe van der Zee

lent us his sound installation, to play the recordings. Jos Hooijmeijer, member of the

Animal Ecology Group of the University of Groningen, supplied us with the sampling

materials.

Back in the Netherlands, Theunis Piersma, Head of the Animal Ecology Group of the

University of Groningen and Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ),

The Netherlands, helped us with some additional analyses. Finally, without Gerrit

Jukema, we might not have even been able to go on this expedition. We are very

thankful to all these people. All of them contributed in making this expedition a huge

success.

The complete team. Photo by JW.

40

10. References

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Thomas, M., Uuganbayar, Ch. 2005. Important Bird area surveys in Eastern

Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar. 73p.

Byrkjedal, I. & D.B.A. Thompson, 1998. Tundra plovers: the Eurasian, Pacific and

American golden plovers and grey plover. Poyser, London.

Delany, S. & D. Scott. 2006. Waterbird population estimates, Fourth edition.

Wetlands International, Wageningen. 239pp.

Johnson, O.W., 2003. Pacific and American Golden Plovers: Reflections on

conservation needs. WSG Bulletin, vol. 100: 10-13.

Johnson, O.W., M.L. Morton, P.L. Bruner, P.M. Johnson. 1989. Fat cyclicity,

predicted migratory flight ranges, and features of wintering behavior in Pacific

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Johnson, O.W., C.D. Adler, L.A. Ayres. 2004. Radio-tagged Pacific Golden-Plovers:

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Plover (Pluvialis fulva), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.).

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Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/202, doi:10.2173/bna.202

Jukema, J., 1987. Were lesser golden plovers Pluvialis fulva regular visitors to

Friesland, The netherlands, in the first half of the 20th century? Wader Study

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2001. Goudplevieren en Wilsterflappers: Eeuwenoude fascinatie voor

trekvogels (Golden plovers and plover netters:a deeply rooted fascination with

migrating birds). Fryske Akademy, Ljouwert/ KNNV Uitgeverij, Utrecht.

Jukema J, Piersma T., 2002. Occurrence of Pacific Golden Plovers in The

Netherlands; Historical perspectives from the "Wilsternetters", Waterbirds 25:

93-99

Klima, J. & O.W. Johnson, 2005. Return rates of male and female monogamous

shorebirds to their breeding grounds. Wader Study Group Bulletin 106: 42-46

41

Ketzenberg, C. & J. Leyrer, unpubl. report. The importance of the East-Mongolian

wetlands for waterbirds, especially as a stop-over site for migratory shorebirds.

À Dornod Shorebird Project 2000

Piersma T. 1998. Phenotypic flexibility during migration: optimization of organ size

contingent on the risks and rewards of fuelling and flight? J. Avian Biol. 29:

511–520.

Tulp, I. & H. Schekkerman, 2001. Studies on breeding shorebirds at Medusa Bay,

Taimyr, in summer 2001. Alterra-rapport 451

Spectators at a horse race. Photo by JW.

42

Appendix 1: List of species seen during the 2005 expedition Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Swan Goose Anser cygnoides Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Northern Pintail Anas acuta Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus Black Kite Milvus migrans Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Amur Falcon Falco amurensis Saker Falcon Falco cherrug Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Ruff Philomachus pugnax Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Common Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Mongolian Gull Larus mongolicus Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Common Tern Sterna hirundo White-winged tern Chlidonias leucopterus Black Tern Chlidonias niger Rock Dove Columba livia Pacific Swift Apus pacificus Needle-tailed Swift Hirundapus caudacutus Hoopoe Upupa epops Skylark Alauda arvensis Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris Short-toed Lark sp. Calandrella sp. Sand Martin Riparia riparia Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

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Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea White Wagtail Motacilla alba Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus Pallas’ Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Two-barred Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus White's Trush Zoothera dauma Naumann's Trush Turdus naumanni Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephala Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola Chestnut Bunting Emberiza rutila Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophrys Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Scarlet Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus Chough Phyrrocorax phyrrocorax Daurian Jackdaw Corvus dauuricus Rook Corvus frugilegus Raven Corvus corax Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus

44

Appendix 2: Total number of Pacific Golden Plovers seen migrating and number near the net Date Number Near net May-15 2455 48 May-19 30 0 May-20 132 0 May-21 129 94 May-22 168 28 May-23 1762 114 May-24 308 251 May-26 44 29 May-27 622 519 May-28 1621 398 May-29 2354 211 May-30 1054 114 Total 10679 1806

45

Appendix 3: Biometrics of the Pacific Golden Plovers that were caught and ringed

Nr. Date Location Ringnumber Sex Age Wing Tatoe Headbill Bill Body mass

1 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490251 M AD 163 75 56.1 125 2 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490252 F AD 172 77 55.9 130 3 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490253 M AD 165 73 57.9 125 4 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490254 F AD 176 76 55.3 130 5 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490255 M AD 171 76 56.1 121 6 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490256 F AD 167 76 56.9 113 7 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490257 M AD 174 76 57.6 125 8 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490258 M AD 170 72 56.8 110 9 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490259 M AD 168 75 57.3 114 10 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490260 M AD 173 75 57.1 110 11 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490261 M AD 173 73 58.0 109 12 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490262 M/F AD 171 78 55.4 100 13 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490263 F AD 172 75 57.1 116 14 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490264 M AD 165 76 57.2 124 15 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490265 M AD 171 73 57.2 23.2 105 16 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490266 M AD 164 75 56.7 22.5 110 17 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490267 M AD 167 75 58.7 24.8 131 18 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490268 M AD 169 77 58.6 24.8 124 19 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490269 M AD 178 75 58.2 23.4 120 20 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490270 M AD 172 77 58.2 23.6 130 21 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490271 M AD 173 79 59.5 23.7 124 22 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490272 M AD 162 74 55.3 22.0 114 23 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490273 F AD 177 74 57.4 24.0 125 24 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490274 M AD 169 74 57.7 24.1 115 25 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490275 M AD 173 77 58.3 24.3 125 26 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490276 M AD 174 77 57.2 22.6 124 27 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490277 M AD 171 79 56.9 23.1 126 28 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490278 F 2KJ 167 76 57.2 23.5 130 29 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490279 M AD 177 78 57.7 24.7 128 30 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490280 M 2KJ 165 73 57.0 24.0 115 31 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490281 F AD 173 76 57.5 27.7 107 32 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490282 M AD 166 73 58.3 22.7 115 33 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490283 F AD 175 74 57.2 24.1 130 34 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490284 M AD 174 73 56.9 22.6 116 35 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490285 M AD 164 76 55.1 21.4 105 36 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490286 F 2KJ 158 72 54.4 22.4 102 37 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490287 F AD 174 75 57.8 24.9 124 38 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490288 M AD 169 75 58.2 23.4 115 39 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490289 M AD 175 78 56.9 22.8 114 40 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490290 M AD 167 75 58.4 23.9 107 41 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490291 M AD 162 75 57.4 21.8 120 42 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490292 M AD 177 76 57.8 22.5 134 43 15-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490293 M/F AD 171 74 54.7 20.4 138 44 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490294 M AD 171 78 58.2 23.7 139 45 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490295 F AD 171 76 55.0 22.1 131 46 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490296 M AD 163 75 57.9 23.5 130 47 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490297 M AD 173 77 55.7 22.8 124 48 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490298 M AD 167 75 56.5 22.8 130 49 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490299 M AD 162 71 55.3 22.1 123

46

50 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490300 M AD 176 78 59.3 24.5 125 51 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490301 F AD 168 76 57.8 23.6 118 52 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490302 M AD 162 71 53.5 20.8 116 53 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490303 M AD 174 75 58.9 24.2 128 54 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490304 M AD 166 76 57.7 21.7 130 55 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490305 M AD 173 77 56.6 23.6 129 56 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490306 M AD 173 75 57.4 23.6 124 57 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490307 M AD 172 77 56.8 24.0 144 58 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490308 M AD 168 75 56.0 22.5 155 59 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490309 M 2KJ 161 77 56.8 22.8 140 60 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490310 F 2KJ 162 71 53.6 21.6 116 61 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490311 M AD 170 75 58.7 23.9 148 62 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490312 M AD 169 77 57.6 23.4 121 63 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490313 M AD 169 72 55.8 22.1 115 64 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490314 F AD 168 73 56.8 22.4 135 65 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490315 M AD 174 75 56.1 21.6 139 66 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490316 F AD 170 73 55.2 21.8 140 67 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490317 M AD 170 76 57.9 23.6 154 68 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490318 M AD 173 76 58.4 23.4 151 69 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490319 M AD 173 72 57.1 22.4 120 70 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490320 M AD 169 72 54.3 22.5 130 71 21-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490321 M AD 176 79 59.2 24.6 165 72 22-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490322 M AD 177 74 59.1 24.5 144 73 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490323 F AD 172 73 56.2 22.0 145 74 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490324 M AD 167 74 57.0 23.1 153 75 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490325 M AD 167 75 59.0 24.6 155 76 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490326 F AD 163 77 56.7 22.8 164 77 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490327 M AD 167 76 57.5 23.1 139 78 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490328 M AD 176 75 57.2 22.0 154 79 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490329 M AD 172 79 56.7 22.7 164 80 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490330 M AD 169 73 55.0 21.5 139 81 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490331 M AD 175 79 57.6 22.4 172 82 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490332 M AD 172 78 57.7 23.5 150 83 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490333 F AD 166 73 59.3 25.0 143 84 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490334 M AD 173 74 55.6 22.9 143 85 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490335 M AD 173 75 57.5 23.1 154 86 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490336 M AD 173 80 57.7 22.5 146 87 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490337 M AD 172 77 58.1 24.9 146 88 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490338 M AD 168 77 57.7 23.3 150 89 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490339 M AD 168 74 57.3 22.5 140 90 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490340 M AD 168 76 57.1 23.3 147 91 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490341 M AD - 70 56.6 23.7 145 92 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490342 M AD 167 73 54.7 22.6 128 93 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490343 F AD 175 73 56.0 21.8 135 94 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490344 M AD 162 73 56.2 22.4 130 95 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490345 F AD 174 76 58.1 23.8 140 96 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490346 M AD 168 72 55.5 22.8 130 97 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490347 F AD 170 77 56.8 24.5 155 98 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490348 F AD 172 75 56.3 22.6 142 99 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490349 M AD 166 75 56.5 23.2 145 100 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490350 F AD 169 72 57.7 24.4 135 101 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490351 M AD 173 79 59.2 24.2 170 102 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490352 M AD 170 73 56.6 23.1 141 103 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490353 F AD 168 76 57.0 23.6 146

47

104 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490354 F AD 177 72 56.8 24.2 150 105 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490355 F AD 170 77 59.0 24.8 140 106 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490356 M AD 165 75 58.0 23.8 151 107 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490357 M AD 167 77 59.5 23.7 163 108 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490358 F AD 172 71 55.6 22.5 157 109 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490359 M AD 168 73 55.4 22.6 131 110 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490360 F AD 167 72 55.4 21.7 144 111 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490361 M AD 173 78 56.4 22.7 155 112 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490362 F AD 167 73 55.6 22.3 138 113 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490363 M AD 172 78 58.6 24.5 142 114 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490364 F AD 168 72 58.2 23.7 145 115 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490365 M AD 168 78 58.0 24.0 145 116 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490366 M AD 163 74 56.3 22.6 138 117 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490367 F AD 169 72 57.8 23.7 130 118 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490368 F AD 168 72 54.9 21.8 115 119 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490369 F AD 170 73 56.1 22.6 120 120 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490370 M AD 168 75 58.0 24.4 145 121 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490371 F AD 172 74 58.5 24.3 152 122 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490372 F AD 161 71 54.4 22.3 142 123 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490373 F AD 168 72 51.1 23.4 128 124 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490374 F AD 170 75 55.8 22.3 138 125 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490375 F AD 175 72 56.3 22.6 135 126 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490376 M AD 167 74 56.2 22.0 140 127 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490377 F AD 170 75 55.2 22.4 143 128 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490378 F AD 167 70 55.7 22.5 125 129 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490379 F AD 168 77 56.5 23.5 155 130 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490380 F AD 173 79 58.3 23.2 156 131 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490381 F AD 164 68 55.0 21.4 130 132 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490382 F AD 173 71 51.6 23.9 131 133 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490383 M AD 169 76 58.3 23.2 157 134 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490384 F AD 167 76 56.8 23.3 165 135 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490385 M AD 176 78 59.0 23.4 165 136 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490386 M AD 173 75 58.0 23.8 130 137 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490387 M AD 172 75 51.1 24.3 132 138 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490388 M AD 174 77 56.6 22.7 135 139 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490389 M AD 169 76 57.9 24.0 121 140 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490390 M AD 169 74 57.6 23.2 133 141 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490391 F AD 166 71 55.3 22.3 160 142 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490392 M AD 167 71 54.7 22.1 145 143 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490393 M AD 171 75 58.3 23.3 139 144 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490394 M AD 167 77 58.6 23.3 148 145 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490395 M AD 170 77 57.1 22.4 148 146 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490396 M AD 163 73 55.5 21.9 148 147 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490397 M AD 167 72 56.5 22.8 128 148 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490398 M AD 174 76 57.5 21.9 142 149 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490399 F AD 172 76 57.6 23.3 156 150 23-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490400 M AD 172 76 58.4 25.9 140 151 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490401 F AD 162 71 55.3 21.9 144 152 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490402 M AD 173 75 57.1 22.9 137 153 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490403 F 2KJ 165 73 56.6 23.1 124 154 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490404 M AD 172 79 58.6 23.8 139 155 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490405 M AD 172 78 57.8 23.8 162 156 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490406 F AD 175 75 57.4 22.9 154 157 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490407 F AD 170 75 55.7 22.4 125

48

158 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490408 F AD 166 77 58.6 24.2 150 159 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490409 M AD 173 75 59.7 24.8 134 160 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490410 M AD 169 75 57.4 24.1 144 161 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490411 M AD 174 76 56.4 21.9 179 162 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490412 F AD 171 75 57.0 24.9 130 163 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490413 M AD 166 75 57.3 22.9 113 164 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490414 F AD 173 71 55.6 22.4 140 165 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490415 M AD 173 80 60.3 25.1 120 166 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490416 M AD - 72 56.2 22.7 151 167 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490417 M AD 168 75 59.2 23.6 140 168 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490418 M AD 167 73 56.7 22.7 125 169 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490419 F AD 173 76 56.9 24.2 154 170 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490420 M AD 168 75 57.3 22.7 144 171 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490421 M AD 166 76 57.6 22.4 115 172 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490422 F AD 166 76 56.5 24.8 140 173 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490423 M AD 167 75 56.6 22.5 123 174 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490424 M AD 161 75 55.9 22.5 120 175 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490425 F 2KJ - 76 56.3 23.4 110 176 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490426 M AD 173 74 57.8 22.6 155 177 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490427 M AD 164 72 55.7 21.7 106 178 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490428 M 2KJ 165 72 56.3 23.2 113 179 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490429 M AD 174 71 56.6 22.6 170 180 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490430 F AD 165 74 57.3 22.3 124 181 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490431 M AD 167 75 55.4 23.2 148 182 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490432 M AD 167 73 55.0 22.2 150 183 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490433 M AD 164 77 56.8 22.5 152 184 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490434 M AD 176 78 57.3 22.7 125 185 24-May-05 Khuk Nuur 1490435 M 2KJ 165 71 54.7 21.2 133 186 26-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490436 M AD 172 74 58.1 23.1 164 187 26-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490437 F AD 169 73 55.9 21.7 147 188 26-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490438 M AD 174 78 58.0 23.2 150 189 26-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490439 F AD 174 74 55.6 22.0 174 190 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490440 M AD 172 78 59.0 24.0 164 191 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490441 F AD 160 71 56.0 23.1 148 192 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490442 M AD 167 75 58.5 23.9 154 193 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490443 M AD 172 74 57.9 24.2 147 194 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490444 M AD 169 75 55.9 22.8 141 195 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490445 M AD 177 75 57.5 22.8 166 196 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490446 M AD 161 73 54.2 20.4 124 197 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490447 F AD 164 73 56.4 23.1 153 198 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490448 M AD 166 75 56.7 23.3 154 199 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490449 F AD 173 71 55.5 21.7 114 200 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490451 M AD 167 72 55.3 21.8 131 201 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490452 F 2KJ 163 77 5439.0 22.5 148 202 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490453 M AD 173 74 56.6 23.7 123 203 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490454 F AD 164 73 56.1 22.9 123 204 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490455 M AD 171 76 58.1 23.7 169 205 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490456 M AD 172 78 58.1 22.6 161 206 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490457 F 2KJ 163 74 55.7 22.2 167 207 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490458 F AD 170 75 56.5 22.7 145 208 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490459 M 2KJ 159 73 55.6 22.9 140 209 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490460 M AD 173 75 58.8 24.2 144 210 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490461 M AD 164 71 57.0 23.0 164 211 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490462 M AD 161 72 56.9 22.9 154

49

212 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490463 M AD 175 70 56.8 21.3 163 213 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490464 F AD 172 76 56.0 22.6 164 214 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490465 M AD 167 70 56.2 22.3 148 215 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490467 F AD 172 75 55.6 23.4 138 216 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490468 F AD 158 73 54.0 22.2 124 217 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490469 F AD 173 76 59.6 25.4 149 218 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490470 M AD 178 79 58.4 24.0 174 219 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490472 M AD 168 78 58.1 22.7 150 220 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490473 M AD 164 74 54.0 22.4 158 221 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490474 F AD 173 77 56.8 23.3 124 222 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490475 M AD 178 75 58.0 23.7 128 223 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490477 M AD 177 79 59.2 24.7 158 224 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490478 F AD 175 73 56.3 22.7 145 225 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490479 F AD 172 75 57.2 23.7 160 226 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490480 F AD 167 74 56.1 22.6 135 227 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490481 M AD 160 76 55.8 21.9 155 228 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490482 M 2KJ 165 76 55.2 22.0 139 229 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490483 F AD 166 72 54.5 21.7 135 230 27-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490484 F AD 176 75 57.4 22.7 146 231 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490485 F AD 168 75 54.9 22.3 162 232 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490486 F AD 170 75 55.4 22.0 160 233 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490487 F AD 167 77 57.8 23.2 164 234 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490488 M AD 162 72 57.1 21.5 147 235 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490489 F AD 173 74 58.0 23.8 124 236 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490490 F AD 167 78 57.0 22.4 155 237 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490491 M AD 169 75 55.9 23.1 154 238 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490492 F AD 174 76 58.2 23.7 184 239 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490493 F AD 173 73 57.0 23.4 159 240 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490494 F AD 170 73 56.0 22.6 154 241 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490495 M AD 173 78 58.3 23.3 172 242 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490496 F AD 163 72 54.7 22.3 157 243 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490497 F AD 171 74 57.3 23.1 164 244 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490499 M AD 174 76 58.0 24.1 164 245 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490500 M AD 174 78 58.0 24.4 155 246 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490501 F AD 167 74 55.8 22.1 140 247 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490502 F AD 169 77 57.2 23.7 147 248 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490503 F AD 173 73 56.5 23.1 138 249 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490504 F AD 173 77 57.5 22.3 150 250 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490505 F AD 173 71 57.3 22.3 150 251 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490506 M AD 172 76 56.5 23.4 165 252 28-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490507 F AD 169 75 57.1 24.1 158 253 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490508 M AD 158 74 57.2 22.8 150 254 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490510 M 2KJ 161 76 56.0 22.4 155 255 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490511 M AD 167 79 57.9 23.0 169 256 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490512 F AD 167 70 51.9 20.0 134 257 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490513 M AD 168 70 56.8 23.3 166 258 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490514 F AD 172 72 56.7 23.4 139 259 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490519 F AD 170 76 55.9 21.9 163 260 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490520 M AD 158 76 54.3 22.1 165 261 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490521 M 2KJ 166 80 56.3 22.4 154 262 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490522 F AD 172 76 56.9 23.1 155 263 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490523 F AD 164 75 56.6 23.0 163 264 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490524 M 2KJ 165 74 55.8 22.5 116 265 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490525 F AD 174 75 57.7 23.7 167

50

266 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490527 F AD 167 74 54.6 20.7 164 267 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490528 M AD 167 75 58.0 23.4 155 268 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490529 F AD 166 76 56.3 22.4 150 269 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490530 F AD 169 71 55.2 22.3 130 270 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490531 F AD 174 75 60.3 25.1 169 271 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490532 F AD 171 75 57.2 22.6 164 272 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490533 M AD 169 79 57.4 22.5 173 273 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490534 M AD 168 73 56.2 23.3 147 274 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490535 F AD 170 77 59.2 24.9 180 275 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490537 F AD 167 75 58.0 22.7 165 276 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490538 F AD 172 75 277 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490539 M 2KJ 171 77 56.9 22.4 154 278 29-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490541 F AD 174 76 56.0 23.1 168 279 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490542 M 2KJ 167 72 54.5 21.5 154 280 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490543 F AD 168 71 55.0 21.7 158 281 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490544 F AD 167 77 57.5 23.5 174 282 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490545 F AD 174 74 57.2 23.4 165 283 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490546 M 2KJ 162 73 56.0 22.6 159 284 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490547 F AD 176 80 59.0 24.2 182 285 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490548 F AD 163 75 58.1 24.1 162 286 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490549 M AD 173 81 57.5 23.3 155 287 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490550 F AD 173 73 56.0 23.1 165 288 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490551 F AD 169 76 57.3 23.6 169 289 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490552 F AD 172 74 56.9 24.0 174 290 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490553 M AD 176 77 56.8 23.2 170 291 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490554 M AD 166 73 55.2 21.9 163 292 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490555 F AD 169 77 56.2 23.2 173 293 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490556 M AD 169 76 58.4 24.3 172 294 30-May-05 Galuut Nuur 1490557 F 2KJ 168 75 53.6 20.7 152

51

Appendix 4: Biometrics of the dissected Pacific Golden Plovers

Nr. Date (cap) Date (dis) Location Sex Wing T-toe

T-head Bill Mass Fat

Int. length

1 15/05/2005 17/05/2005 Khuk Nuur F 179 73 NA NA 116 6.5 43 2 15/05/2005 17/05/2005 Khuk Nuur M 168 73 57.4 - 105 0.0 44 3 15/05/2005 17/05/2005 Khuk Nuur F 172 75 55.3 - 105 0.0 52 4 15/05/2005 17/05/2005 Khuk Nuur M 166 75 55.9 - 107 0.0 52 5 23/05/2005 24/05/2005 Khuk Nuur M 167 72 NA NA 126 5.0 63 6 23/05/2005 24/05/2005 Khuk Nuur M 170 76 57.8 22.2 163 19.5 45 7 23/05/2005 24/05/2005 Khuk Nuur M 164 - 56.8 23.4 144 16.0 51 8 23/05/2005 24/05/2005 Khuk Nuur M 172 71 NA NA 154 11.5 60 9 23/05/2005 24/05/2005 Khuk Nuur M 173 76 57.5 23.8 149 9.0 52 10 23/05/2005 24/05/2005 Khuk Nuur M 173 79 57.3 23.0 143 5.5 52 11 23/05/2005 24/05/2005 Khuk Nuur M 171 76 58.1 23.1 151 10.5 64 12 23/05/2005 24/05/2005 Khuk Nuur F 170 72 56.1 22.2 133 7.5 64 13 23/05/2005 24/05/2005 Galuut Nuur M 166 72 57.0 23.3 133 15.5 50 14 24/05/2005 26/05/2005 Galuut Nuur - 170 76 57.7 23.8 173 30.5 52 15 24/05/2005 26/05/2005 Galuut Nuur - 176 74 56.8 23.5 140 5.0 61 16 24/05/2005 26/05/2005 Galuut Nuur - 169 76 57.8 22.4 135 10.5 52 17 27/05/2005 28/05/2005 Galuut Nuur M 170 69 56.1 22.8 150 24.0 47 18 27/05/2005 28/05/2005 Galuut Nuur M 165 76 56.7 22.3 142 12.5 59 19 27/05/2005 28/05/2005 Galuut Nuur F 170 73 57.5 23.2 144 15.5 48 20 27/05/2005 28/05/2005 Galuut Nuur M 169 75 58.1 23.9 156 32.5 46 21 28/05/2005 30/05/2005 Galuut Nuur F 166 74 56.8 23.2 131 7.0 58 22 29/05/2005 30/05/2005 Galuut Nuur F 171 71 57.8 23.8 167 21.0 62 23 29/05/2005 30/05/2005 Galuut Nuur M 170 75 58.4 25.0 151 21.0 64 24 29/05/2005 30/05/2005 Galuut Nuur F 168 72 56.2 22.6 166 31.5 49 25 29/05/2005 30/05/2005 Galuut Nuur F 169 72 55.6 22.8 163 32.0 57 26 29/05/2005 30/05/2005 Galuut Nuur M 160 72 56.7 23.0 145 24.0 61 27 29/05/2005 30/05/2005 Galuut Nuur M 174 79 59.4 25.7 157 10.5 74 28 29/05/2005 30/05/2005 Galuut Nuur M 174 75 57.7 24.3 142 14.5 47 29 29/05/2005 30/05/2005 Galuut Nuur M 175 77 57.7 24.0 158 23.0 59

52

List of WIWO-reports. The WIWO-report series intends to be a regular medium by which occasional reports of ornithological expeditions or journeys can be published. In this way regular distribution and availability are guaranteed. Quality differences are accepted, since the authors remain responsible. WIWO-reports published: 1. Altenburg W., M. Engelmoer, R. Mes & T. Piersma 1982. Wintering waders at the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania.

Comm. 6 Wadden Sea Working Group. Leiden, The Netherlands. Sold out. 2. Kersten M., T. Piersma, C. Smit & P. Zegers 1983. Wader migration along the Atlantic coast of Morocco, March

1981. Texel, The Netherlands. € 12,- 3. Philippona J. 1985. Waterbirds at some wetlands in Turkey and Greece. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 1,75 4. Bijlsma R.G. & F.E. de Roder 1985. Waders along the coast of Thailand during November and December 1984.

Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 5. De Roder F.E. 1985. Waterbirds on some Turkish wetlands, October/November 1983. Zeist, The Netherlands. €

3,75 6. Van den Berk V., N. van den Berk, R.G. Bijlsma & F.E. de Roder 1985. The importance of some wetlands in

Turkey for transient and wintering birds in Turkey. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 7. Piersma T. 1985. Wader studies and waterbirds in the Nakdong Estuary, South Korea, in September 1984. Zeist,

The Netherlands. € 5,75 8. Chalabi B., J. Harrison & G. van Dijk 1985. Les zones humides du Nord-Est Algerien en 1984. Zeist, The

Netherlands. Sold out 9. Ens B. 1985. Tussen Sahara en Siberië. Ewijk, The Netherlands. € 2,25 9. Ens B. 1985. Entre Sahara et Siberie. Ewijk, The Netherlands. Sold out. 10. Van den Berk V., D. van Dorp, O. van Hoorn & R. Vos 1986. Cranes and waterfowl counts of some Turkish

wetlands. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 3,50 11. Van Dijk A.J., K. van Dijk, L. Dijksen, T. van Spanje & E. Wymenga 1986. Wintering waders and waterfowl in

the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia, January-March 1984. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,- 12. Bijlsma R.G. & F.E. de Roder 1986. Notes on the birds of some wetlands in Turkey. Zeist, The Netherlands.

Sold out. 13. Dijksen L.J. & F.J. Koning 1986. Mid-winter waterfowl census, Turkey 1986. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 14. Schilperoord L. & M. Schilperoord-Huisman 1986. Observations of waterbirds in some wetlands in Turkey,

July/August 1986. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 3,50 15. Altenburg W. 1987. Waterfowl in West African coastal wetlands: a summary of current knowledge. Zeist, The

Netherlands. € 4,75 16. Bennet C.A., R.G. Bijlsma & R. Stouthamer 1982. Survey of waterbirds on Egyptian wetlands, autumn 1981.

Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 17. Schekkerman H. & J.C.J. van Wetten 1987. An ornithological winter survey of Lake Turkana, Kenya. Zeist,

The Netherlands. € 3,50 18. Dijksen L.J. & P. van der Wolf 1987. Mid-winter waterfowl census Turkey January 1987. Zeist, The

Netherlands. € 3,50 19. Lensink R. 1987. Notes on the birds of some wetlands in North-East Greece and Turkey. Zeist, The

Netherlands. € 3,50 20. Meininger P.L. (ed.) 1990. Birds of the wetlands in North-East Greece, spring 1987. Zeist, The Netherlands. €

14,- 21. Dijksen L.J. & A-M.C. Blomert 1988. Mid-winter waterfowl census Turkey, January 1988. Zeist, The

Netherlands. Sold out. 22. Van der Have T., V.M. van den Berk, J.P. Cronau & M.J. Langeveld (eds.) 1988. South Turkey Project. A

survey of waders and waterfowl in the Çukurova deltas, spring 1987. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 23. Altenburg W. & J. van der Kamp 1989. Etude ornithologique préliminaire de la zone côtière du nord-ouest de la

Guinée. Joint report of WIWO and ICBP. WIWO-report 23, ICBP study report 30, Zeist, The Netherlands and Cambridge, England. Sold out.

24. Chalabi B. & G. van Dijk 1988. Les zones humides dans la region de Anaba et El Kala en Mai 1987. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 3,50

25. Ens B.J., T. Piersma, W.J. Wolff, L. Zwarts (eds.) 1989. Report of the Dutch-Mauritanian project Banc d'Arguin 85/86. WIWO-report 25, RIN-report 25, Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out.

26. Altenburg W., E. Wymenga & L. Zwarts 1992. Ornithological importance of the coastal wetlands of Guinea-Bissau. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out.

27. Ens B.J., T. Piersma, W.J. Wolff & L. Zwarts 1990. Homeward bound: Problems waders face when migrating from the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, to their northern breeding grounds in spring. WIWO-report 27, RIN-report 27, Zeist & Texel. € 25,-

53

28. Van Winden A., K. Mostert, P. Ruiters, M. Sıkı & H. de Waard 1989. Waders and waterfowl in spring 1988 at Eber Gölü. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75

29. Van den Berg A.B. 1988. Moroccan Slender-billed Curlew survey, winter 1987-88. WIWO-report 29, ICBP-report 29, Zeist, The Netherlands and Cambridge, England. Sold out.

30. Keijl G.O., M.W.J. van Roomen, P.S. Ruiters & A. Wijker 1992. Migration of waders and other waterbirds along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, spring 1989. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out.

31. Dijksen L.J. & A-M. Blomert 1989. Mid-winter waterfowl census Turkey January 1989. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75

32. Schekkerman H. & M.W.J. van Roomen (eds.) 1993. Migration of waterbirds through wetlands in Central Anatolia, spring 1988. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,-

33. Spiekman H. & N. Groen 1993. Survey of breeding waders and relations between breeding performance and lemming densities, North-East Taimyr, Siberia, 1992. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out.

34. Van den Berk V.M., J.P. Cronau & T.M. van der Have 1993. Waterbirds in the Van Province, eastern Turkey, May 1989. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,-

35. Altenburg W. & J. van der Kamp 1991. Ornithological importance of coastal wetlands in Guinea. Joint report of WIWO and ICBP. WIWO-report 35, ICBP study report 47, Zeist, The Netherlands & Cambridge, England. Sold out.

36. Van der Have T.M., S. van der Sant, Y. Verkuil & J. van der Winden (eds.) 1994. Waterbirds in the Sivash, Ukraine, spring 1992. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out.

37. Dijksen L.J. & A-M. Blomert 1993. Mid-winter waterfowl census Turkey January 1990. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,-

38. Spiekman H.W., G.O. Keijl & P.S. Ruiters (eds.) 1993. Waterbirds in the Kneiss area and other wetlands, Tunisia. Eastern Mediterranean Wader Project, spring 1990. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,-

39. Wolff W.J. (ed.) 1998. Waders in Guinea-Bissau, October 1992-May 1993. The end of the East Atlantic Flyway. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,-

40. Meininger P.L. & G.A.M. Atta (eds.) 1994. Ornithological studies in Egyptian wetlands 1989/90. WIWO-report 40, FORE-report 94.01, Zeist, The Netherlands. € 16,-

41. Schepers F.J. & E.C.L. Marteijn (eds.) 1993. Coastal waterbirds in Gabon. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,- 42. Hirschfeld E., S.A. Mohamed & T. Stawarczyk 1992. Bahrain wader study 1991. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold

out. 43. Brehme S., T. Müller & J. Redlich 1992. Bird observations in the Danube delta and in the Dobrodgea

(Romania). Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 44. Spiekman H. 1992. Wader ringing in Tunisia 1962-1986. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 45. Hustings F. (ed.) 1994. Bird census in the Kızılırmak delta, Turkey, in 1992. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 46. Meininger P.L., P.A. Wolf, D.A. Hadoud & M.F.A. Essghaier 1994. Ornithological survey of the coast of

Libya, July 1993. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,- 47. Groen N.M. & P.J. Zomerdijk (eds.) 1994. Waders and waterbirds along part of the Atlantic coast of Morocco,

autumn 1991 - spring 1992. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 48. Kivit H.A., H. Nijmeijer & A. Ovaa (eds.) 1994. Wader and waterfowl migration in the Çukurova deltas, South

Turkey, spring 1990. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 49. Hagemeijer W.J.M. (ed.) 1994. Wintering waterbirds in the coastal wetlands of Albania, 1993. Zeist, The

Netherlands. Sold out. 50. Dijksen L.J. & M.C.M. Klemann 1994. Wintering geese in Turkey, January 1992. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,- 51. Gerritsen G.J. & N.M. Groen 1995. Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit project 1993. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold

out. 52. Vonk, H. 2003 Breeding Waders of Cape Wastochnia, Pyassina Delta, Taimyr, Russia, in 1994. Zeist, The

Netherlands. € 9,- 53. De Nobel W.T. (ed.) 1995. Birds of the Messolonghi wetlands. Eastern Mediterranean Wader Project, spring

1990. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 54. Van der Have T.M., N. Baccetti, G.O. Keijl & M. Zenatello 1997. Waterbirds in Kneiss, Tunisia, February-

March 1994. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 55. Schekkerman H. & M. van Roomen 1995. Breeding waders at Pronchishcheva Lake, Northeastern Taimyr,

Siberia, in 1991. Zeist, The Netherlands. Sold out. 56. Van den Brink B., R.G. Bijlsma & T.M. van der Have (eds.) 1998. European Swallows Hirundo rustica in

Botswana. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 57. Tulp I., L.W. Bruinzeel, J. Jukema & O. Stepanova 1997. Breeding waders at Medusa Bay, western Taimyr, in

1996. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,- 58. Van den Brink B., R.G. Bijlsma & T.M. van der Have (eds.) 1998. European songbirds and Barn Swallows

Hirundo rustica in Ghana: a quest for Constant Effort Sites and swallow roosts in December/January 1996/97. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,-

54

59. Veerman T. & H. Wessels 1998. Cranes Grus grus in NW-Russia, autumn 1996. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 4,75 60. Willems F.J. & E. de Vries 1998. Ecological aspects of Pygmy Cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus in Prespa,

Greece, May-August 1996. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 61. Tulp I., H. Schekkerman, T. Piersma, J. Jukema, P. de Goeij & J. van de Kam 1998. Breeding waders at Cape

Sterlegova, northern Taimyr, in 1994. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 62. Keijl G.O., P.S. Ruiters, T.M. van der Have, A. bij de Vaate, E.C.L. Marteijn & R. Noordhuis 1998. Waders

and other waterbirds in the United Arab Emirates, autumn 1994 and spring 1995. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,- 63. Schepers F.J., G.O. Keijl, P.L. Meininger & J.B. Rigoulot 1998. Oiseaux d'eau dans le Delta du Sine-Saloum et

la Petite Côte, Sénégal, janvier 1997. WIWO, Zeist, The Netherlands & Direction Parcs Nationaux du Sénégal, Dakar, Sénégal. Sold out.

64. Zekhuis M.J. & D. Tempelman (eds.) 1998. Breeding birds of the Albanian wetlands, spring 1996. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,-

65. Wieland A. 2000. Surveys of flora and fauna in the Senné fishponds area, Slovakia, spring 1997. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,-

66. Khomenko S., S. Rosenfeld & S. Dyluk 2000. Birds of Medusa Bay, NW Taimyr, in 1997. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,-

67. Van Wetten, J.C.J. & P. Spierenburg 1998. Waders and waterfowl in the floodplains of the Logone, Cameroun, January 1993. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,-

68. Keijl G.O., A. Brenninkmeijer, F.J. Schepers, R.E. Brasseur, A. Ndiaye, E.W.M. Stienen & J. Veen 2000. Oiseaux nicheurs sur les côtes du Parc National du Sine-Saloum et du Parc National Langue de Barbarie, Sénégal, 1998. WIWO-report 68, IBN-DLO-report 99/6. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,-

69. Exo, K.-M. & O. Stepanova 2000. Ecology of Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola breeding in the Lena Delta, The Sakha Republic/Yakutia, in 1997. Report on a pilot study. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,-

70. Overdijk O, C. de le Court & A. Gueye 2001. Spoonbill count on the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, January 2000. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,-

71. Van der Winden J., E.A. Diadecheva, W.T. de Nobel & M.W.J. van Roomen (eds.) 2001. Counts and ecology of waterbirds in the Sivash, Ukraine, August 1998. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,-

72. Van der Have T.M., G.O. Keijl, J. Mansoori & V.V. Morozov 2001. Searching for Slender-billed Curlews in Iran, January-February 2000. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,-

73. Geene R. (ed.) 2001. Waterbird count of Zanzibar and Pemba Islands, Tanzania, January 1998. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,-

74. Bos J.F.F.P., G.M. van der Geest, N.L.M. Gilissen, R.A.J. Pahlplatz, I. Essetti & F. Ayache 2001. Waterbirds in the Gulf of Gabès and other wetlands in Tunisia, autumn 1999. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 12,-

75. Dijkstra A.J., W. Ganzevles, G.J. Gerritsen & S. de Kort 2002. Waders and waterbirds in the floodplains of the Logone, Cameroon and Chad, January - February 1999. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,-

76. Heunks C. & E. Heunks 2002. Distribution and status of Great Bustards Otis tarda in the Konya Basin, Turkey, spring 2000. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 7,-

77. Willems F., C. van Turnhout, H. van Kleef & R. Felix (eds.) 2002. Breeding birds of Medusa Bay, Taimyr, Russia. Methods for biological monitoring in the Arctic, with results of 1998 and 1999. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 16,-

78. Klaassen R.H.G., H. Schekkerman, I. Tulp, M. Berezin, A.G. Bublichenko, J.N. Bublichenko, S.P. Kharinotov, S. Rosenfeld & S. Khomenko 2003. Monitoring and breeding ecology of arctic birds at Medusa bay, Taimyr, Russia, in 2000. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 14,-

79. Jalving, R.J.G. & R.T. Vos. 2003. Waterbirds in Lake Orumieh, Iran. September 2000. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 9,-

80. Deuzeman S.B.,T.M. van der Have, W.T. de Nobel & B. van den Brink 2004. European swallows Hirundo rustica and other songbirds of wetlands in Ghana, December 1997. Zeist, The Netherlands. € 8,-

81. Hagemeijer E.J.M., C.J. Smit, P. de Boer, A.J. van Dijk, N. Ravenscroft, M.W.J. van Roomen & M. Wright 2004. Wader and waterbird census at the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, January 2000. Beek-Ubbergen, The Netherlands. € 12,-

82. Ganzevles W. & J. Bredenbeek (eds.) 2004. Waders and waterbirds in the floodplains of the Logone, Cameroon and Chad, February 2000. Beek-Ubbergen, The Netherlands. € 8,-

83. Van der Waarde J.J. (ed.) 2007. Waterbird census of coastal Cameroon and Sanaga river, January-March 2007. Beek-Ubbergen, The Netherlands. € 17,50

84. Van der Winden J., A. Siaka, S. Dirksen & M. Poot 2007. Waterbirds in coastal wetlands of Sierra Leone, January - February 2005. Beek-Ubbergen, The Netherlands. € 15,-

85. Hofland R. & G.O. Keijl 2008. Syrian Sociable Lapwing Survey, 18 February - 5 March 2007. Beek-Ubbergen, The Netherlands. € 12,-

55

86. Van Kleef H., R. Smeets, D. Osipov, K. Tretjakov, T. Kirikova, D. Nowak, A. Nowak & J. Gregersen 2009. Monitoring and breeding ecology of arctic birds at Medusa Bay, Taimyr, Russia 2005. Beek-Ubbergen, The Netherlands. € 12,-

87. Wijmenga J.J., J. Jukema, J. Reneerkens, S. Gombobaatar, B. Gantulga & S. Tserennadmid 2011. The importance of North-Eastern Mongolia for migrating Pacific Golden Plovers. Spring 2005. Nijmegen, The Netherlands. € 12,-

These reports can be ordered by paying the mentioned amounts for each required copy, plus € 7,- administration costs for each separate order of WIWO-reports, to postal giro account 2.666.009 or to ABN-Amro bank account 57.02.16.613 of Stichting WIWO, Utrecht, The Netherlands. It is important to mention the numbers of the required reports. Postage for surface mail is included in the prices. The administration costs are required to cover the bank costs for payments from abroad. They are not due for payments from Dutch accounts.

WIWO Foundation Working Group for International Waterbird and Wetland

Research WIWO, a foundation under Dutch law, was established in 1983 to form a unifying centre for Dutch ornithologists participating in ornithological expeditions to West-Africa. The aims of WIWO are to initiate, stimulate and organise scientific research on waterbirds and wetlands worldwide and to transfer the gathered knowledge for the protection of the habitats and bird populations involved. WIWO is an organisation exclusively working with unpaid volunteers with a miscellaneous scientific background. The data collected in the field during WIWO-projects often require laborious efforts at home to evaluate, analyse and report them. Up to 1998 over 60 projects have been carried out in 18 different countries. During the expeditions much information has been collected on waterbirds in a large number of wetlands along the entire East Atlantic Flyway, along the Mediterranean Flyway, and in the Eurasian Arctic. Furthermore, information has been collected on function, importance and extent of protection and threats to the wetlands visited. WIWO's main role is to gather information that will provide a sound basis for the protection of the populations and areas concerned. The results are made available to all organisations and individuals active in nature conservation through a series of reports, as well as through scientific and popular papers. Up to 1998 over 60 reports have been published. WIWO does not act as co-ordinating organisation such as Birdlife International or IUCN. The main strength of WIWO is its capability to mobilize volunteers with a professional attitude for ornithological research expeditions. All correspondence should be sent to: WIWO, P.O. Box 6521, 6503 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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