TRIP REPORTS – KAZAKHSTAN

October 4th to 15th 1996

A short summary of Lesser White-fronted goose expedition to Northern Kazakstan October 4-15, 1996

The aim of the expedition was to check the places of the satellite transmitter locations in October 1995 from an adult male L. W-f. Goose Anser erythropus of the endangered Fennoscandian population. The expedition was arranged by the Lesser White-fronted Goose working group of WWF Finland. Participants: Petro Pynnonen, Sami Timonen, Petteri Tolvanen, Aune Veersalu.

Target area:

E and S parts of the Kustanay oblast in N Kazahstan

Total number of geese observed:

ca. 280.000 individuals, from which:

Anser albifrons      ca. 37,9  % = ca. 106.000 individuals
Anser erythropus     ca.  2,84 % = ca.   7.900 individuals
Anser anser          ca. 27,8  % = ca.  78.000 individuals
Anser fabalis                                1 individual
Branta ruficollis    ca. 31,5  % = ca.  88.000 individuals

Geese seen shot by hunters:     111 individuals

Anser albifrons   86 % = 95 individuals (not protected in Kazahstan)
Anser erythropus   5 % =  6 individuals (not protected in Kazahstan !)
Anser anser        9 % = 10 individuals (not protected in Kazahstan)
Branta ruficollis  0 % =  0 individuals (protected in Kazahstan)

Age distribution of well-observed Lesser White-fronted Geese:
66,6 % adults, 33.3% juveniles (indicating a quite poor breeding year)

Some other interesting bird observations (total numbers):

Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus ca. 30
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis ca. 20
White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus ca. 40
Great White Egret Egretta alba ca. 250
Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus bewicki ca. 20
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 3
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea ca. 200
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina ca. 200
Scaup Aythya marila 1
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis 3
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla ca. 50
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus 3
Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygarcus 1
Pallid/Montagu’s Harrier Circus macrourus/pygarcus ca. 10
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus 3
Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca heliaca 10
Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga 1
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 5
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus 2
Peregrine Falco peregrinus 3
Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax 13
Crane Grus grus 5
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva ca. 20 juv.
“Siberian Gull” Larus fuscus heuglini ca. 20
Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus ca. 30
Black Lark Melanocorypha yeltoniensis ca. 400
White-winged Lark Melanocorypha leucoptera ca. 20
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra 2
Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis 2
Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola 3
Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus 3

Petteri Tolvanen
WWF Finland
Lesser White-fronted Goose Project

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