Title
Distribution and status of the Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus in Mongolia: a cause for conservation concern?
Author(s)
Gilbert, M.;Tingay, R.;Losolmaa, J.;Sureda, N.;Gilbert, C.;Batmunkh, D.;Gombobaatar, S.
Published
2014
Publisher
Bird Conservation International
Abstract
Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus (PFE) is sparsely distributed across a vast swathe of central, eastern and southern Asia, and is classified as 'Vulnerable' by IUCN on the basis of population size and reports of declines in many areas. Mongolia has long been considered a breeding stronghold for the species, but evidence to support this is unclear. Our objective was to assess the current distribution and status of the PFE in Mongolia to enable a more accurate assessment of the species' conservation status, through collation of existing information from the historical literature, and a contemporary survey of historical sites and potential PFE breeding habitat. Thirty-four traceable locations were identified in the historical literature, of which breeding activity had been recorded in seven. Field surveys were conducted at a total of 77 sites throughout the study period (2005-2011) between April and October, including 21 of the historical PFE locations. PFE were observed at eight sites, all of which were historical PFEs locations, and no evidence of breeding activity was recorded. These findings suggest that Mongolia is not (and may never have been) a breeding stronghold for the PFE. The lack of eagles at 13 of 21 historical sites surveyed, coupled with a lack of sightings of birds at alternative locations is suggestive of a decline in site occupancy. Observations of juvenile eagles within one month of the spring thaw suggests that at least a proportion of Mongolian PFEs are breeding at southern latitudes, and future studies to establish these migratory linkages are warranted. These findings, coupled with evidence of declines in other parts of the PFE range indicate a need to re-evaluate the species' conservation status, and in particular to determine the number of mature PFEs present in suitable habitat in the Indian Subcontinent and Myanmar between November and March.
Keywords
mercury;Zoology

Access Full Text

A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the WCS Library to request.



Back

PUB15119