Mongolia – Safe Haven for Largest Birds of Prey in the Old World

Mongolia – Safe Haven for Largest Birds of Prey in the Old World

Friday, September 9, 2016 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm
  • Library Hall

A featured talk for the 2016 Yampa Valley Crane Festival!

The cinereous vulture is the largest species among birds of prey on the Eurasian and African continents. While similar species in Africa and Europe greatly suffer from changes in land use practice, persecution, lack of food, and chemicals used in agriculture fields and farms, the cinereous vultures in Mongolia are doing better thanks to nomadic herders. Nyambayar Batbayar, Director and Research Biologist of the Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia, will talk about how the centuries-old traditional nomadic lifestyle benefits this species.

Nyambayar Batbayar (Nyamba)

About the speaker
Nyambayar Batbayar (Nyamba) is Director and Research Biologist of the Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia and Research Associate of the International Crane Foundation based in Wisconsin. Fluent in English and Mongolian, he is editor-in-chief of the Mongolian Journal of Ornithology and Conservation. Nyamba was born in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia and graduated from the National University of Mongolia with a BS in biology. After graduation he worked for World Wildlife Fund, Mongolia for two and half years on bird and antelope research and conservation projects. He earned his Masters degree in raptor biology from Boise State University and his PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Oklahoma. From 2000-2004 he worked as a research biologist for the Peregrine Fund in Idaho. Nyamba has authored a field guide to the common birds of Mongolia and numerous research papers that have influenced conservation policy in Mongolia.

About the Yampa Valley Crane Festival
The Greater Sandhill Crane is an iconic species of the Yampa Valley. Returning in the spring, cranes nest and raise their young in wetland areas throughout the valley. In late summer and early fall, hundreds of cranes from the Rocky Mountain flock join the local birds to rest and feed before continuing their journey south. The festival includes daily crane viewings, expert speakers, films, art exhibits, workshops, family activities and more. All community activities and events are free unless otherwise indicated in the program, and the Bud Werner Memorial Library will be home base for many of these talks, films and events.

Learn more about the Yampa Valley Crane Festival at www.coloradocranes.org.

Photo courtesy Julius Rückert