Survival, Breeding and Movements of Reintroduced Asiatic Houbara ('Chlamydotis [undulata] macqueenii') in Mahazat As-Sayd Reserve, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The houbara ('Chlamydotis [u.] macqueenii') is a desert-dwelling bustard whose ecology and behaviour is poorly known, Populations of houbara me probably in decline throughout their range. Techniques for the conservation and recovery of populations include creation of reserves and reintroduction of captive-reared sub-adults. Thc process of reintroduction has not been well studied for this species. Conservation biologists have tried different methods of release to test which is the most successful, but further work is required to improve release survival rates. There is also a need to consider the behaviour and ecology of reintroduced populations to ensure that they are typical of this species. In addition, reintroduced populations olTer opportunities to address specific questions about houbara biology that are not easily achieved ill other populations, where individuals are not individually identifiable. From 1995 to 1997, I released 152 sub-adult houbara into the 2250 km² Mahazat as-Sayd Reserve in west-central Saudi Arabia and followed their fate. In this thesis, I report on the success of releases, and on the breeding perfonnance, nesting habitat, home range, movements, display and lekking behaviour of reintroduced houbara.