Outward migration of Houbara Bustards from two breeding areas in Kazakhstan

Abstract

We studied the migration patterns of nine Houbara Bustards (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) from two breeding areas in the Republic of Kazakhstan by tracking via satellite during two consecutive seasons. All the birds from the Taukum desert (east Kazakhstan) migrated southwest towards the Kyzylkum desert and then south-southeast towards Iran, south Afghanistan, and north Baluchistan. All the birds from the Buzachi peninsula (west Kazakhstan) migrated south towards Turkmenistan and Iran and then west towards south Iraq. Houbara followed similar migration routes in 1995 and 1996. All birds bypassed natural obstacles such as seas and mountains. The total distance covered by Houbara during their outward migration ranged from 1,600 to 2,320 km. We observed important interindividual variation in migration timing, duration, and patterns. Migration duration ranged from 14-73 days. Travel rate between the breeding grounds and the wintering grounds was 24 to 151 km day-1, with up to 323 km covered in one day.