BAR-HEADED GOOSE MIGRATION OVER THE HIMALAYA CORDELLERA

In a collaborative project (see team members below) satellite tracking was used to document the migration of bar-headed geese over the Himalaya. The Himalayan Cordillera is a formidable barrier to migration for most birds, but bar-headed geese are uniquely adapted for high altitude flight and cross the Himalaya along a wide migratory front. Geese marked with satellite transmitters in India and Nepal crossed from 14 March to 11 April 2005 at elevations exceeding 6,141 m. They arrived at breeding areas on the Tibetan Plateau (4,450 m), only 750 km north of their wintering grounds and 700 km southeast of Qinghai Lake (3,200 m). Two birds from India flew to the same Tibetan spring staging area (Lamqog Kanbab River) as another marked in 2006, and birds from Nepal migrated to Tibetan areas (200 km northwest of Lhasa) eastward of the birds from India. These geese remained in separate areas throughout the breeding season before returning to wintering areas near original capture sites. The wintering groups may represent distinct populations, since geese are known for strong site fidelity.

Research Collaborators:

• USGS Western Ecological Research Center
• United Arab Emirates Terrestrial Environment Research Center
• USGS Alaska Science Center
• Bombay Natural History Society
• Wildlife Institute of India
• Napalnature
• Keoladeo National Park, India and Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal
• British Broadcasting Corporation - Natural History Unit (Martin Huges-Games, Giles Badger)
• Microwave Telemtery (Paul Howey)
• US Fish and Wildlife Service, International Affairs (Dave Ferguson, Mini Nagendran)