Search

SummaryThe Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii is a regular winter visitor from northern breeding grounds to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but the migration routes and origin of these birds are still poorly known. Five bustards were fitted with platform transponder terminals in UAE in the winter of 1996-1997. The overall distances covered by the birds were very variable, ranging from 3,747 km to 11,938 km. The return migration date of Houbara from UAE ranged from 19 March to 2 April 1997, while the outward migration began from 10 September to 7 November 1997. The Houbara spent the summer n i different areas, namely China (north of lake Nor), Kazakhstan (Kyzyl Kum desert and north of the Aral Sea), Uzbekistan (south of the Aral Sea) and north Afghanistan. These results are the first to describe an annual cycle of migration for Houbara Bustards and should aid the development of appropriate conservation measures for this species.

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.

—In the United Arab Emirates, Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug) and Peregrine Falcons (F. peregrinus) are traditionally used in falconry. The success of hybrids has made falconers appreciate purebred Gyrfalcons (F. rusticolus). It took some years to develop techniques for managing the Gyrfalcon for good health and hunting, and it is now valued alongside the Saker and Peregrine Falcon. Gyrfalcons are becoming increasingly popular because they are good hunters, as well as being large and beautiful. Although there is some illegal trade in wild Gyrfalcons, the United Arab Emirates has developed strong regulations involving a ringing and passport system for ownership. Illegal wild Gyrfalcons held in captivity, owing to stress, are more prone to disease such as aspergillosis, amyloidosis, and bumblefoot. Captive-bred Gyrfalcons are steadier and can live, hunt, and breed for many years. Captive breeding will provide sustainable supplies without impacting wild populations. Research is in progress to analyze the genomes of Peregrine and Saker Falcons, which are genetically very similar to the Gyrfalcon. This will help in the long-term health of the wild populations and sustainable supplies of quality falcons for falconry. Transcribed from an oral presentation given by Majid Al Mansouri on 1 February 2011. AL BOWARDI, M. 2011. The role of the Gyrfalcon in Arabian falconry. Pages 21–26 in R. T. Watson, T. J. Cade, M. Fuller, G. Hunt, and E. Potapov (Eds.). Gyrfalcons and Ptarmigan in a Changing World, Volume I. The Peregrine Fund, Boise, Idaho, USA. http://dx.doi.org/10.4080/gpcw.2011.0102

8 pages; International audience; Summary 1. The information content of secondary sexual traits and the benefits gathered by choosy females are at the heart of sexual selection theory. Indicator models of sexual selection assume that secondary sexual traits reflect the phenotypic/genetic quality of their bearers and that females gather benefits from choosing these high-quality males. 2. Here, we tested the idea that courtship display reflects the health status in a bird species with a lek-based mating system, the houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata undulata). A group of males was treated with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the cell wall of the bacterium Escherichia coli during the seasonal peak of courtship display, while another group of males was injected with a phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS) as a control. We then monitored the effect of the treatment on both courtship display and ejaculate quality. Finally, females were artificially inseminated with semen from LPS and PBS males, which allowed us to assess the effect of the immunological treatment on reproduction. 3. We found that the inflammatory challenge reduced courtship display and semen quality compared to controls. Interestingly, males that better resisted to the immune challenge in terms of courtship display also better resisted in terms of ejaculate quality. Early reproductive failure was increased when females were artificially inseminated with semen from immune-activated males. Failure of eggs laid by females inseminated with LPS semen was due to a reduced fertilization power of sperm of LPS males or to increased embryo mortality in the very early stage of embryo development. As a consequence, hatching rate was reduced for females inseminated with semen collected from LPS males. 4. These results show that by assessing male courtship display, females may gain insight into the current phenotypic/genetic quality of mates and gather fitness benefits in terms of reproductive success.