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Ornithology in the Gaoligong Mountains


The Ornithology (bird research) team is conducting bird surveys and inventories in the understudied Gaoligong Mountains. The Gaoligong represents the confluence of three major avifaunas – the Indian/Myanmar fauna, the Yunnan Fauna, and the Himalayan/Tibetan fauna, and yet these mountains are relatively isolated from each of these neighboring areas. With our surveys, we hope to describe the insular Gaoligong avifauna and understand its relationship to nearby faunas.  In so doing, we hope to document species distributions within the area, document range expansions for some species, and possibly even to discover new avian species or subspecies.

Discoveries

  • Expected number of bird species: 450-700
  • Total specimens collected (2002-2006):1,269
  • Total species collected (2002-2006): 180

Who is involved?

The Ornithology field teams accompanied the Mammalogy field teams on two expeditions each year beginning in 2002.
In addition to the many students, forestry service officials, drivers, and volunteers who helped the team with the surveys, the main ornithology team includes:

Where we collected

Map the birds surveyed in each county by clicking on the links below:

2002: Nujiang Prefecture, Lushui and Fugong counties
2003: Baoshan Prefecture, Tengchong, Longling, and Longling counties
2004: Nujiang Prefecture, Lushui county
2005: Nujiang Prefecture, Lushui and Fugong counties


Photo:Dian Prosser

Forestry service field student, Zhang Shu Xia with Yuhina gularis


Photo: Jack Dumbacher
Collecting in the field

Photo: Jack Dumbacher

This Fire-tailed Myzornis (Myzornis pyrrhoura) is usually found in the Himalayas however, this collection represents the far-eastern portion of the species' range and is the only collection from China residing in a U.S. museum.


Photo: Jack Dumbacher

The collection of this Collared Owlet (Glaucidium brodiei) was a rare find as it is uncommon to capture owls and raptors in mist nets.

Photo: Dian Prosser

Pianma Pass in Lushui county lies at 2000 meters (6,561 ft) above sea level. It is a site of diverse vegetation that provides food and shelter for local birds.

Photo: Maureen Flannery

Along the border with Myanmar (formerly Burma) lies Shibali in Fugong county. This region contains primary forest, alpine meadows and extensive bamboo forests.


Photo: Dian Prosser
Ornithology, Ichthyology, and Mammalogy field teams in the Spring 2004 expedition included researchers from CAS, KIZ, and the Nujiang Forestry Department.