5 Migration and Movement Patterns of Cinereous Vultures in Mongolia Nyambayar Batbayar 1,3, Richard Reading 2 , David Kenny 2 , Tseveenmyadag Natsagdorj 3 , Paek Won Kee 4 1 Wildlife Science and Conservation Center, Bldg., Institute of Biology, room #305, MAS, Ulaanbaatar 210351, Mongolia. bnyamba@magicnet.mn 2 Denver Zoological Foundation, City Park, E. 2300 Steele St., Denver, Colorado, USA. 3 Ornithology Laboratory, Institute of Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 210351, Mongolia. 4 Korea National Science Museum, 32-2 Guseong dong, Yuseong- gu, Daejeon 305705, South Korea. Background Information The Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), also known as the Eurasian Black Vulture, is the largest bird of prey in the Old World. Today the species ranges from Spain in the west to southeastern Siberia, Mongolia, and China (Clark, 1999; Ferguson-Lees & Christie, 2001). Photo 1. Black Vulture and chick at a nest in Erdenesant, Central Mongolia. (N. Batbayar) There has been very little systematic study of the migration and ecology of Cinereous Vultures beyond Western Europe, although limited research was recently undertaken in Mongolia and Georgia (Batbayar, 2004; Reading et al., 2005; Batbayar et al., 2006b; Gavashelishvili & McGrady, 2006). Research indicates that present and future threats to Cinereous Vultures in Asia may be quite distinct from those encountered in Europe. For example, despite serious declines elsewhere in their range, Mongolia supports a healthy population of Cinereous Vultures that is probably the largest breeding population of the species in the world (Batbayar, 2004). In 2002 and 2003, researchers initiated two complimentary and cooperative research projects in Mongolia to study ecology, dispersal, and migration of Cinereous Vultures (Batbayar, 2004; Reading et al., 2005). This research program was initially designed to understand ecological factors affecting Cinereous Vulture breeding success, distribution, abundance, and movement patterns in Mongolia and Asia. Initial results demonstrated that the population of Cinereous Vultures in Mongolia depends on nomadic pastoralists’ livestock and nesting habitat was not limiting. Over 80% of Mongolian arable land is used as pastureland for ive main stock animals: horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and camels (Sheehy, 1996; MNE, 2001; Reading et al., 2006), which, we hypothesize, represent the primary food source for vultures in the country. These pasturelands cover the largest contiguous area of common grazing lands that remain in the world (World Bank, 2003). Therefore, we presume that the large number of breeding population of Cinereous Vulture in Mongolia exists largely because of extensive breeding habitat and plenty of food. Movements Dispersal, movement patterns, and possible migration of Cinereous Vultures in Asia has not been studied until recently. Some researchers state that Cinereous Vultures do not migrate (Meyburg & Meyburg, 1983; Ferguson-Lees & Christie, 2001). In Mongolia, many adults and ledglings appear to migrate in autumn from their breeding grounds to South Korea (Batbayar, 2004; Batbayar et al., 2006b). Although good data are scarce, re-sighting data of birds marked in Mongolia suggest that at least some Cinereous Vultures migrate between Mongolia and South Korea (Nyambayar et al., 2007; Kenny et al., In press). The Old World vultures are primarily scavengers and they ly in great distances within relatively short distances. Therefore satellite tracking provides an important tool for following these birds’ seasonal movements, dispersal, and possible migration patterns. Because of their large range, large body size, and unpredictable destinations, vultures are particularly well suited for satellite tracking. Figure 1. Recorded migratory movements of Cinereous Vultures from Mongolia.