Habitat use and population dynamics of the Azure-Winged Magpie ...

List of Figures
Figure 2.1 Morphological differences between juvenile (left) and adult (right) Cyanopica
cyanus cyanus in Khonin Nuga, Northern Mongolia. Photo courtesy of
Gantulga Bayandonoi. ......................................................................................... 10
Figure 2.2 (a) Distribution of Cyanopica cyanus worldwide (b) East Asian region and
(c) in Northern Mongolia. Asian subspecies: (1) C. c. cyanus, (2) C. c.
kansuensis, (3) C. c. interposita, (4) C. c. swinhoei, (5) C. c. pallescens, (6)
C. c. stegmanni, (7) C. c. koreensis, (8) C. c. japonica; European subspecies:
(9) C. c. cooki and (10) C. c. gili. Figure 2.2 (a) and (b) from Fok et al.
(2002). Figure 2.2 (c) from Wikipedia (2011). ................................................... 12
Figure 2.3 On top of a hill facing south-east direction, looking down into Khonin Nuga
valley, the Eroo River and Khonin Nuga Field Station. The Sharlan and
Khong Rivers join at the upper left of the picture to form the Eroo ................... 18
Figure 2.4 On a hill facing north-west direction, looking down on Sharlan Meadows
(before the river, foreground of photo) and Padus patch (after the river, centre
of photo) (2009). The Khong and Sharlan Rivers meet on the left side of the
photo to become Eroo River. ............................................................................... 18
Figure 2.5 On a hill north-west of the Khonin Nuga Research Station, looking down
onto the Main Breeding Area. Prior to the 2009 fire, the Cyanopica cyanus
colony spend most of their time at the Main Breeding Area (large red circle),
making occasional foraging forays in groups to three areas across the Eroo
River (small red circles). Photo by Nina Tiralla (2008). ..................................... 20
Figure 2.6 A VHF Single Stage glue-on transmitter with a whip-antenna ........................... 24
Figure 3.1 Home range of Cyanopica cyanus colony outlined in red polygon. ................... 30
Figure 3.2 Home range of Cyanopica cyanus in Khonin Nuga, West Khentii, Northern
Mongolia. The two rivers Sharlan and Khong join to form Eroo River. ............ 31
Figure 3.3 Home range of Cyanopica cyanus without the topographic map. Dotted lines
encompass the six main areas that this colony utilised. ...................................... 32
Figure 3.4 Detailed map of (a) Kassel and (b) Betula Woodland areas. For description of
coloured areas see Fig. 3.2 & 3.3 Legend. .......................................................... 34
Figure 3.5 Detailed map of the Main Breeding Area habitat. Nests 1-3 were clustered
together near the far right end of the Main Breeding Area, whereas Nest 4
stood alone. For description of coloured areas see Fig. 3.2 & 3.3 Legend. ........ 35
Figure 3.6 Detailed map of (a) Khonin Nuga (Research Station) and (b) Padus Patch and
Sharlan Meadows areas. Three nests were located in the dense Padus asiatica
bushes. Nests P1 & P2 were close together. Nest P3 was further south. For
description of coloured areas see Fig. 3.2 & 3.3 Legend. ................................... 37
Figure 3.7 Mean duration (minutes) ± SE spent in each observation event when
Cyanopica cyanus colony was located. ............................................................... 39
Figure 3.8 Proportion of time spent by Cyanopica cyanus in six main areas, plus other
areas in 2009. Other areas used this year were cliffs, an area outside of the
home range of this colony of C. cyanus and a forested area between the two
rivers, Sharlan and Khong. .................................................................................. 40
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