Observation of a large flock of Sociable Lapwings Vanellus gregarius in southeast Egypt

摘要

The Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius is a globally threatened species breeding inthe grassland steppes of southern Russia and central Kazakhstan, though formerly morewidespread, and wintering in northeast Africa and India (BirdLife International 2008). Itis thought that its breeding range and numbers have been drastically reduced as a resultof habitat alteration (eg the conversion of steppes to arable lands in early Soviet times)and later the reduction of short grass steppes due to the large scale collapse of collectivelivestock farming (Watson et al 2006).