Otis tarda

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	GRUIFORMES	OTIDIDAE

Scientific Name:

Otis tarda

Species Authority:

Linnaeus, 1758

Common Name/s:

English	–	Great Bustard
Spanish	–	Avutarda, Avutarda Euroasiática

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2c+3c+4c ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor/s:

Alonso, J., Andryucshenko, Y., Antonchikov, A., Goriup, P. & Nagy, S.

Justification:
This species has suffered rapid population reductions across most of its range owing to the loss and fragmentation of its habitat. Although populations in its Iberian stronghold have stabilised and possibly increased, future land-use changes in eastern Europe, Russia and central Asia may have a significant impact on this species's population and the extent of its remaining habitat, such that it is likely to undergo a rapid population reduction over the next three generations. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Otis tarda breeds in Morocco (c.150 birds⁶), Portugal (1,435 birds¹), Spain (23,055-25,000 birds^1,7,8), Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary (1,100-1,300 birds), Bulgaria, Romania (nearly extirpated), Moldova, Turkey (800-3,000 birds), Iran, Russia (8,000 birds³), Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia (1,000 birds), and China (2,250-3,300 birds⁴); and a reintroduction scheme is currently taking place in the United Kingdom. The population may number 45,000 individuals of which 4,200-4,500 occur in east Asia. Its Palearctic range is becoming increasingly disjunct and there have been rapid declines and some extinctions throughout eastern and central Europe and in parts of Asia, particularly Kazakhstan and Mongolia⁴. Most populations are partially migratory and 8,000-10,000 birds occur on passage or in winter in Ukraine².
Countries:	Native: Afghanistan; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Bulgaria; China; Croatia; Czech Republic; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Italy; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Spain; Syrian Arab Republic; Tajikistan; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan Vagrant: Albania; Belgium; Cyprus; Denmark; Egypt; Finland; Gibraltar; Ireland; Israel; Japan; Korea, Democratic People's Republic of; Korea, Republic of; Latvia; Lebanon; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; Tunisia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Alonso et al. in prep. (Proyecto Avutarda)
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It occurs in open, flat or somewhat rolling landscapes, usually with a mixture of steppic grassland, crops (cereals, oilseeds, fodder plants) and bare ground⁶. Areas with little or no disturbance and abundant supply of insects are required for successful breeding²
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Key threats are increased habitat fragmentation and habitat loss due to agricultural intensification, which has the potential to increase following land privatisation in eastern Europe⁵ and is occurring in China⁴. Habitat loss and fragmentation continues as a result of ploughing of grasslands, intensive grazing, afforestation and increasing development of irrigation schemes, roads, power-lines, fencing and ditches. Mechanisation, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, fire and predation all contribute to high mortality in eggs, chicks and juveniles. Hunting is a major threat in Morocco, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine and China^2,4,6 and collision with overhead power lines is another significant threat⁸.

Major Threat(s):

Key threats are increased habitat fragmentation and habitat loss due to agricultural intensification, which has the potential to increase following land privatisation in eastern Europe⁵ and is occurring in China⁴. Habitat loss and fragmentation continues as a result of ploughing of grasslands, intensive grazing, afforestation and increasing development of irrigation schemes, roads, power-lines, fencing and ditches. Mechanisation, chemical fertilisers and pesticides, fire and predation all contribute to high mortality in eggs, chicks and juveniles. Hunting is a major threat in Morocco, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine and China^2,4,6 and collision with overhead power lines is another significant threat⁸.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I and II, CMS Appendix I and II and CMS MoU in place since 2002. EU Wild Birds Directive Annex I, Bern Convention Annex II, Bonn Convention Annex I^5,6. A European action plan was published in 1996 and an action plan for east Asian populations in 1998. Conservation Actions Proposed Research limiting factors. Protect and manage breeding and wintering areas. Upgrade existing and establish new protected areas in east Asia. Implement agri-environment measures for low-intensity farming. Prevent steppe fires, illegal hunting and collision with power-lines. Raise public awareness.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II, CMS Appendix I and II and CMS MoU in place since 2002. EU Wild Birds Directive Annex I, Bern Convention Annex II, Bonn Convention Annex I^5,6. A European action plan was published in 1996 and an action plan for east Asian populations in 1998.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Research limiting factors. Protect and manage breeding and wintering areas. Upgrade existing and establish new protected areas in east Asia. Implement agri-environment measures for low-intensity farming. Prevent steppe fires, illegal hunting and collision with power-lines. Raise public awareness.

Bibliography [top]

	Alonso, J.C., Martin, C.A., Palacin, C., Martin, B. and Magana, M. 2005. The great bustard Otis tarda in Andalusia, southern Spain: status, distribution and trends. Ardeola 52(1): 67-78. Alonso, J.C., Palacin, C. and Martin, C.A. 2003. Status and recent trends of the great bustard (Otis tarda) population in the Iberian Peninsula. Biological Conservation 110(2): 185-195. Chan, S.; Goroshko, O. 1998. Action plan for the conservation of the Great Bustard. BirdLife Asia, Tokyo. Kollar, H. P. 1996. Action plan for the Great Bustard (Otis tarda). In: Heredia, B.; Rose, L.; Painter, M. (ed.), Globally threatened birds in Europe: action plans, pp. 245-260. Council of Europe, and BirdLife International, Strasbourg.

Alonso, J.C., Martin, C.A., Palacin, C., Martin, B. and Magana, M. 2005. The great bustard Otis tarda in Andalusia, southern Spain: status, distribution and trends. Ardeola 52(1): 67-78.

Alonso, J.C., Palacin, C. and Martin, C.A. 2003. Status and recent trends of the great bustard (Otis tarda) population in the Iberian Peninsula. Biological Conservation 110(2): 185-195.

Chan, S.; Goroshko, O. 1998. Action plan for the conservation of the Great Bustard. BirdLife Asia, Tokyo.

Kollar, H. P. 1996. Action plan for the Great Bustard (Otis tarda). In: Heredia, B.; Rose, L.; Painter, M. (ed.), Globally threatened birds in Europe: action plans, pp. 245-260. Council of Europe, and BirdLife International, Strasbourg.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Otis tarda. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2012.
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