MIGRATORY SWAN WATCHING TRIP-2013

Mongolica and Mongolian Ornithological Society organized a swan watching tour on 12nd of October, 2013 at "Sangiin Dalai" lake in Ulziit sum, Uvurkhangai province.

The main purposes of this tour was to count the birds assembled at "Sangiin Dalai" lake, as well as determine the most suitable area to observe and photograph these swans for future Swan watching tours.

Mongolica and Mongolian Ornithological Society, ornithologists and experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the School of Biology and Biotechnology, National University of Mongolia, Ecology-Education club and other bird watchers participated in this tour.

The swan watching tour began at 8 o`clock in the morning of 12th of October. The tour bus departed from NUM’s 2ndbuilding and reached Ulziit sum at 5pm, driving through Lun Erdenesant and Ulziit soums of Tuv province, totally 375km on asphalt road.

The main tour activity included watching, counting and photographing the swans as well as other species of birds gathered at the lake. The tour was organized from 5pm until 7pm at "Sangiin Dalai" lake.

We found a Whooper Swan with necklace numbered T88.

For the bird counting activity, we divided all the participants into two groups, and handed out the telescopes and binoculars. One group went around the south side of the lake, whereas the other group went around the north side of the lake. During the counting, participants also had the opportunity to photograph these swans.

Inventory of species counted by both groups:

Out of the total number, 70% of the swans were counted at the north side of the lake and remaining 30% of the swans were counted on the south side of the lake.

Some photographs taken during the trip: