The world status and population trends of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda):2010 update

The Great Bustard(Otis tarda) world population is estimated to be 44100–57000 individuals in 2010,of which about 57–70% occur in Spain,15–25% in European Russia,4–10% in China,Mongolia and south-eastern Russia,3–4% in Portugal,3% in Hungary,1–2% in Turkey,and smaller numbers in ten other countries.The reliability of current censuses and estimates may be described as high for a large fraction of the world population(67–75%),and low for the remain-ing 25–33%(including Russia,Mongolia,China,Turkey,Ukraine,Iran and Kazakhstan).In spite of continued declines reported for some countries(e.g.,Turkey,Iran,China) ,the present survey suggests that total numbers have not significantly decreased worldwide during the last decade,as opposed to the globally declining trend currently assumed.This is due to a large fraction of the world total living in countries whose overall surveys are apparently stable(e.g.,Spain,Portugal),after a noticeable recovery during the last few decades once the hunting ban was established.Only 6–10% of the world total is apparently still decreasing,mostly due to agricultural intensification,other causes of habitat degradation,and locally,also illegal hunting and collision with power lines.A small fraction of the world population(3–4%),is clearly(Germany,Austria) or apparently(Hungary) increasing,due to management and conservation measures.Finally,19–22% of the world total has an uncertain status,due to inaccurate current or past censuses which prevent establishing reliable population trends.We recommend 1)keeping conservation efforts and the species’protection status worldwide,and 2)carrying out urgently nation-wide surveys in countries with low quality estimates,in order to confirm world numbers and trends.

Distribution and status of bustards in China

This article presents the distribution and status of bustards,which are listed as first-category protected animals according to the survey results during 1990–2002 in China.The Chinese populations of Otis tarda dybowskii are breeding in south-west of Heilongjiang Province,western Jilin Province,east and middle Inner Mongolia,north Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,and Gansu Province.A few can winter in the south breeding-range.Its winterrange lies from the south to the Yellow River,as far as to Guizhou Province and Jiangxi Province.Its population number is about 200–300 or 500–800.The Chinese populations of O.t.tarda are breeding in the north and west of Xinjiang.It is unclear about its winter-range,which is presumed to be in south Asia.Recently we found individuals wintering in Chabuchaer and west Xinjiang.The population number is about 2000–3000.The habitat in breeding range includes steppe,grassland,desert grassland,and farmland.The habitat in winter range is the beach of rivers and lakes,meadows,meadow-grassland,and wheatland.The Chinese populations of Chlamydotis undulata macqueeni are breeding in the fringe of the Jungar Basin,the banks of the Ulungur River,Balikun and south Turpan Basin in Xinjiang,west Inner Mongolia,and west Gansu.Northeast Mulei in eastern Jungar Basin of Xinjiang is the main breeding-range in the world.The bird uses desert and desert grassland as its habitat.Its winter-range is west Asia and south Asia.Its population number is about 2000.The Chinese populations of Tetrax tetrax are breeding in north Xinjiang,and China is located on the east border of its breeding-range.Its habitat is grassland and semi-desert,and its winter-range lies in south Asia.Its population in China is very scarce.In addition,we analyzed the causes of their endangerment and put forward protection tactics of Chinese Bustards.