Outward migration of Houbara Bustards from two breeding areas in Kazakhstan

We studied the migration patterns of nine Houbara Bustards (Chlamydotis und ulata macqueenii) from two breeding areas in the Republic of Kazakhstan by tracking via satellite during two consecutive seasons. All the birds from t he Taukum desert (east Kazakhstan) migrated southwest towards the Kyzylkum desert and then south-southeast towards Iran, south Afghanistan, and north Baluchistan. All the birds from the Buzachi peninsula (west Kazakhstan) mig rated south towards Turkmenistan and Iran and then west towards south Iraq. Houbara followed similar migration routes in 1995 and 1996. All birds bypa ssed natural obstacles such as seas and mountains. The total distance cover ed by Houbara during their outward migration ranged from 1,600 to 2,320 km. We observed important interindividual variation in migration timing, durat ion, and patterns. Migration duration ranged from 14-73 days. Travel rate b etween the breeding grounds and the wintering grounds was 24 to 151 km day( -1), with up to 323 km covered in one day.