No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Monk vulture (Aegypius monachus)
... 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). Vulture and chick at a nest in Erdenesant, Central Mongolia. ...
... 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 fledglings appear to migrate in autumn from their breeding grounds to South Korea (Batbayar, 2004; Batbayar et al., 2006b). ...
... Since 2003 the Denver Zoological Foundation and Mongolian Academy of Sciences have been conducting research into the ecology of Eurasian Black Vultures Aegypius monachus in the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve (Ikh Nart) in southeastern Mongolia. The Eurasian Black Vulture is Palaearctic in distribution, with a range extending from Spain in the west to southeastern Siberia, Mongolia, and China (Ferguson-Lees & Christie 2001). ...
... Throughout much of their distribution these vultures do not appear to migrate (Meyburg & Meyburg 1983, Ferguson-Lees & Christie 2001. However, using satellite radio-telemetry, Gavashelishvili and McGrady (2006) recorded long range movements of a single bird that fledged in Georgia and then travelled south to Saudia Arabia before travelling north into Russia. ...
Introduction Since 2003 the Denver Zoological Foundation and Mongolian Academy of Sciences have been conducting research into the ecology of Eurasian Black Vultures Aegypius monachus in the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve (Ikh Nart) in southeastern Mongolia. The Eurasian Black Vulture is Palaearctic in distribution, with a range extending from Spain in the west to southeastern Siberia, Mongolia, and China (Ferguson-Lees & Christie 2001). Throughout much of their distribution these vultures do not appear to migrate (Meyburg & Meyburg 1983, Ferguson-Lees & Christie 2001). However, using satellite radio-telemetry, Gavashelishvili and McGrady (2006) recorded long range movements of a single bird that fledged in Georgia and then travelled south to Saudia Arabia before travelling north into Russia. Abdusalyamov (1971) noted that at least some birds migrate from the breeding grounds in winter in Tajikistan (and Shibnev (1989) reported vultures appearing during the winter in former Soviet far east. In Mongolia, many adults and fledglings may migrate in autumn from their breeding grounds areas to South Korea, although good data are scarce (Batbayar 2004, Batbayar et al. 2006b). We do not know if any birds migrate to North Korea. We do know that most Eurasian Black Vultures disperse from Mongolia in winter (Meyburg & Meyburg 1983) and Batbayar (2006a) states that some nesting birds and many young birds from central Asia migrate to the Indian subcontinent, southern China, the Russian Far East, and South Korea in winter. In this paper we discuss our preliminary results on the dispersal of Eurasian Black Vultures from Ikh Nart based on re-sightings of tagged birds. Study area Ikh Nart (GPS location for research centre 45˚43'N, 108˚38'E), 66,600 ha of open valleys and maze-like rocky outcrops in north-western Province of Dornogobi, was established in 1996 to protect the wildlife, particularly Argali Sheep Ovis ammon (Myagmarsuren 2000, Reading et al. 2006). Birdlife International designated the reserve an Important Bird Area in 2004, primarily because of its high density of nesting vultures and Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni, a globally threatened and biome restricted species. Semi-arid steppe vegetation covers this high upland (~1,200 m). Climate is strongly continental and arid, characterized by cold winters (low -40°C),
... The cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus, is one of the largest birds of prey in Eurasia and its distribution is from Spain in the west to Mongolia and China in the east. 1 Their global population size is estimated to number 15,600-21,000 mature individuals and overall it is decreasing, despite the increase in the European population. 2 The two main threats to this species are direct mortality caused by poisoning by humans (either accidentally or deliberately) and decreasing food availability. 3 Shooting and poisoning are increasing in Mongolia, 4 and many birds are trapped or shot in China for their feathers used as accessories. ...
Mature individuals of the cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus, number 15,600–21,000 birds worldwide and population size of the bird has been in decline due to poisoned baits and the decreasing availability of food. Approximately 12–16% of the global population of cinereous vultures spend their winters in Korean regions that are hence important areas. In this study, the population structure and genetic diversity of the cinereous vulture in South Korea were evaluated to clarify the relationships between the Mongolian and South Korean populations with genetic diversity assessed using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite markers. In the South Korean population, two unique haplotypes (Hap8 and Hap9) were newly discovered in their mtDNA, with three polymorphic sites and low-level genetic diversity. Most of the cinereous vultures in South Korea were represented by a single haplotype, Hap8, and analyses of phylogenetic trees and the haplotype network illustrated that Hap8 was clustered in Lineage D (Mongolia). Notably, the other haplotype, Hap9, was only identified in one individual in South Korea with an unexpected clustering in Lineage C (Caucasus region, Armenia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan populations), which indicated that it might have been a vagrant bird. The microsatellite loci ( n = 21) isolated from South Korean cinereous vultures indicated comparatively lower genetic variation, with a K value of 1. These results indicate that the origin of the South Korean population is most likely from one source population of the Far Eastern cluster (Mongolian population), which was also supported by the outcome of mtDNA analysis. This study improves our understanding of the population structure and genetic diversity between the Mongolian and South Korean cinereous vulture populations.
... Cinereous vultures range across the Palearctic, from Spain through southern Europe to Turkey, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Central Asia, Siberia, Mongolia, and northern China to the Russian Far East and the Korean Peninsula (Heredia 1996;Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001;Gavashelishvili et al 2006Gavashelishvili et al , 2012. The largest Old World raptor with a 2.5e3 m wingspan and weighing 7e13 kg (Del Hoyo et al 1992;Álvarez and Garcés 1997), the species appears to be faring well in Mongolia (pers. ...
We report on differential movement of adult and juvenile cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) in the northeast Asia. Adult vultures remain in Mongolia throughout the year, whereas many juvenile vultures migrate from their breeding grounds in Mongolia to wintering grounds in the Republic of Korea (South Korea). We trapped adult and juvenile Cinereous Vultures in Mongolia and Korea to attach wing tags (n = 270 fledglings and 10 adults) and, for some, global positioning system telemetry units (n = 31 fledglings, 18 juveniles, and 10 adults). While adult birds never left Mongolia, fledglings and juveniles wandered more widely into Russia (rarely), China, and the Korean Peninsula. Most telemetered fledglings and juveniles for which we obtained data migrated seasonally between Mongolia and South Korea. Juvenile vultures used larger summer home ranges than adults. Juveniles used much smaller winter than summer home ranges. Over the course of the year, adult and juvenile vultures moved similar amounts that differed seasonally. How juvenile vultures learn the migration route between Mongolia and Republic of Korea remains unknown. Our results have important conservation implications, as factors influencing the survivorship of migratory birds can strongly impact populations.
... The Cinereous (or Eurasian Black) Vulture (Aegypius monachus) is a scarce to rare scavenger that has a large southern Palearctic breeding distribution that extends from Spain to Russia, Mongolia, and China (del Hoyo et al. 1994;Ferguson-Lees & Christie 2001). Its conservation status is Near-threatened (IUCN 2011). ...
Capsule Juvenile and immature Cinereous Vultures from the Caucasus move large distances across undeveloped open-dry habitats in response to snowfall or high summer temperatures.
Aim To study local and long-range movements of Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), and investigate the influence of environmental variables on spatial and temporal distributions of the species on a large scale.
Methods We use 4-year-long location data from 6 juvenile Cinereous Vultures fitted with satellite-received transmitters to track their movements and obtain habitat suitability models.
Results A few months after fledging, Cinereous Vultures may migrate from the Caucasus as far south as the Arabian Peninsula. Their movements are concentrated in undeveloped open-dry habitats. High temperatures push the vultures to higher latitudes and altitudes, while reverse seasonal movements are triggered by the extent of snow cover.
Conclusions Our study shows the importance of the Arabian Peninsula and Iran as wintering areas for Cinereous Vultures. Long-distance movements by immature cinereous vultures are determined by climate seasonality, and in light of climate-warming scenarios for the next 100 years, there might be a shift in timing of the onset of the species seasonal movements and a change in the duration and geography of its wintering and summering.
... Eurasian black, or cinereous, vultures (Aegypius monachus) are the largest raptors in Eurasia, sporting impressive 2.5 -3 m wingspans and weighing 7 -13 kg (DEL HOYO et al. 1992, ÁL-VAREZ AND GARCÉS 1997. The species ranges across the Palaearctic, from Spain in the west to southeastern Siberia, Mongolia, and China (FERGUSON-LEES & CHRISTIE 2001). Eurasian black vultures appear to be faring well in Mongolia, although internationally conservationists have expressed concern over the status of the species. ...
We studied the nesting ecology and movement patterns of Eurasian black vultures (Aegypius monachus) nesting in and near Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Dornogobi Aimag, Mongolia. From 2003 till 2009, we monitored nesting pairs from incubation to fledging and compared nesting success for pairs nesting on rocks and trees. We captured chicks just prior to fledging to apply leg bands and wing tags. We also captured adults in June and attached solar-powered global positioning system (GPS)/satellite telemetry units, leg bands, and wing tags. We collected re-sighting data on marked birds opportunistically and telemetry data on tagged birds. We moni-tored 363 nesting pairs from 2003 to 2009. Most nesting failures occurred during the ~ 55 day incubation period. Overall, 50.9 % of nesting pairs raised a chick to fledgling. Nesting substrate (i.e., rock or tree) did not influence nesting success. Between 2006 and 2009 we received re-ports of sightings for 21 individual birds and on 37 occasions (n = 1 – 6 sightings/bird). Thirty three sightings (89 %) came from South Korea between November and March, with other sight-ings in Mongolia, China, and Russia. We placed 5 GPS/satellite telemetry units on adult vultures in 2008 and 2009, but one did not work. We received 2,767 locations from the other 4 units through 2009. Adult vultures used large foraging areas, covering a mean minimum convex poly-gon home range of 27,025 ±11,922 SE km 2 , a mean 95 % kernel home range of 4,953 ±1,596 SE km 2 , and a mean core home range (i.e., 50 % kernel) of 526 ±168 SE km 2 . Our data suggest that only fledgling and juvenile birds disperse from Mongolia in late autumn/early winter, while adults remain in near their nesting sites, but we require more data. We do not know if most of our tagged birds travel to Korea or the large number of reported re-sightings there result from the stronger bird watching tradition in that country compared with other areas.
... The Eurasian black vulture has a Palearctic distribution ranging from the Iberian Peninsula in the west through the Balkans, Turkey, Caucasus, Iran, and Afghanistan to northern China, Central Asia, the Korean Peninsula, and the Russian Far East. 1,2 The age of the first breeding has been reported to be 5-6 years. 3 In Mongolia, adults construct massive stick nests on rocky outcrops and ledges, or occasionally in trees. ...
Working as a veterinarian in remote field locations can be physically and intellectually challenging. A collaborative multi-disciplinary approach is often required for successful data collection. Technologies and methodologies frequently need to be modified to work in these harsh field environments. This article will describe a collaboration in southeastern Mongolia collecting blood for sera analytes and physiologic data from Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) chicks during a tagging operation.
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus considers as the largest species among old world’s vultures, and it’s also recognized as important part of any ecosystem as cleaner of dead animals with natural and non-natural mortality. We investigated genetic characteristics of Cinereous Vulture (n = 39) using 738 base pair (bp) long cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene in mitochondrial DNA. The observed overall haplotype (Hd) and nucleotide (Pi) diversities were 0.279 ±0.0079 and 3.9 x 10-3, respectively. Relatively small genetic pairwise FST distance (FST = 0.027) resulted for weak geographical structure among studied populations (>95% of total variation due to within population). Conducting more investigation on species genetic diversity using more appropriate/polymorphic markers is crucial for better conservation of Cinereous Vulture, especially for little known Asian populations.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.