Observations from the Gobi
February & March 2011

Purevsuren Tsolmonjav

The research and monitoring team of the environmental department of Oyu Tolgoi LLC has started to conduct wildlife observation around Oyu Tolgoi license area in the Gobi on a monthly basis.

Asian Short-toed Lark. © Purevsuren Tsolmonjav

During the first survey on 19 February 2011 a total of 12 species of birds were recorded:

Pallas’s Sandgrouse (many), Common Raven (many), Common Magpie (many), Mongolian Ground-jay (8), Wallcreeper (1), Siberian Accentor (many), Common Redpoll (many), Chaffinch (2), Little Owl (1), Bearded Vulture (1), and Cinereous Vulture (1).

Common Redpoll. © Purevsuren Tsolmonjav

Mongolian Finches. © Purevsuren Tsolmonjav

Mongolian Finch.© Purevsuren Tsolmonjav

During the second survey on 19 March 2011 a total of 16 species of birds were recorded:

Pallas’s Sandgrouse (many), Common Raven (many), Common Magpie (many), Chukar (many), Mongolian Ground-jay (2), Daurian Jackdaw (many), Siberian Accentor (many), Common Redpoll (many), Chaffinch (1), Asian Short-toed Lark (many), Mongolian Finch (many), Güldenstadt’s Redstart (1), Godlewski’s Bunting (many), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (many), Horned Lark (1), Cinereous Vulture (1).

Güldenstadt’s Redstart. © Purevsuren Tsolmonjav

Güldenstadt’s Redstart. © Purevsuren Tsolmonjav

Mongolian Ground-jay. © Purevsuren Tsolmonjav