An avifaunal survey of middle Mongolian wetlands: Important Bird Areas and threatened species

The objectives of this study were (a) to assess the avifaunal diversity variation among covered wetland habitats in middle Mongolia and (b) to identify threats that might endanger the avifauna at the these wetlands. Surveys were undertaken at 14 wetlands across middle Mongolia, consecutively in May, July, and September 2017. A total of 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) were identified in Mongolia; among these IBAs, 44 sites (68%) were based on wetland habitat, including our study sites. In this study, 192 bird species belonging to 94 genera for a total of 132,582 birds from 14 wetlands were recorded. Within total recorded species, 95 species (49.7% of total) of waterbirds belonged to six orders and accounted for 97% of total birds counted. Nine globally threatened bird (GTB) species were recorded; among these, common pochard (Aythya ferina) and swan geese (Anser cygnoides) were recorded with the greatest abundances 3,296 and 3,260, respectively. More livestock overgrazing and prolonged drought were natural phenomena recorded as crucial threats to the birds at the study sites. Our findings highlight the need for habitat management around estuaries.