About PTT Data Location in Dagestan

By Gadzhibek Dzhamirzoev, and Sergey Bukreev

On 2-3 April 2003, we visited towns of Kayakent and Izberbash, from where PTT data were received on 4 March 2003. We interviewed the Chair of the Wildlife and Fish Society of Daghestan who had no information about Siberian Cranes.

On 28 April 2003, the receiving of PTT data recommenced and continued to come from nearly the same place as on 4 March. Therefore on 13 May we surveyed this territory for the first time and tried to find the Siberian Crane or its remains.

This site on the Caspian Coast Plain is covered with semi-desert vegetation. The location of the PTT data is right on the edge of a pasture where cattle graze constantly turning into a shallow 25-m wide ravine with reed thickets and a stream that flows into the small Darvagchai River. There are five sheep barns within a 3-km radius, with a vineyard nearby and a winter crop field in 1 km. The nearest town of Daghestanskie Ogni is in 3 km, the nearest sheep house – in 500 m from the site. Distance from the PTT location to the sea is 4 km. On the coast there are several sand quarries with heavy machinery working during the day.

We searched the place of the PTT signal origin within 100 m radius with a hope to find the satellite transmitter. In three places we found a bunch of large white feathers (probably secondary and covert feathers from tail or wing). The ends of feathers have been gnawed by some animal. Within a 2 m radius there are two fox holes, one of them is living.

The herders from the two nearest sheep barns told us that they saw large white birds in the area in March, but after a few specific questions we suggested that those birds were egrets. It was clear to us that the herders knowledge of and interest toward birds are close to zero. For example, they didn’t notice a White Stork, which we met in just 1 km from the sheep barn.

According to the herders, spring hunting is very intensive in the area (hunters come mainly from the town of Daghestanskie Ogni). These hunters shoot all birds without discernment. We found around numerous feathers of ducks and of the Lesser Bustard.

On 6 June 2003 we returned to the area since the PTT signals continued to register from there. We made a preliminary map, on which we put coordinates of the last signals with accuracy radiuses. The area of our search is shown on the map by a dotted line. It is quite an extensive territory, approximately 1 x 1.7 km. The area represents a pasture crossed by several shallow ravines with narrow (up to 20 m wide) streams in the bottom lined by reeds.

As it is clearly seen on the map, the zones of probable presence of the PTT did not overlap in different days. This can be explained only by the transmitter somehow moving around. The possibility that the crane (maybe wounded or injured) is still in the area is very tiny since the area is wide open (no place to hide), with cattle grazing here all the time, so the bird could not have remained unnoticed. Also, feeding conditions in the area look quite poor for Siberian Cranes. We interviewed all the shepherds in the area and no one has seen a crane.

Another possible explanation of the pattern of the dots on the map reflecting the locations of the PTT signal could be that some person (such as a herdsman) picked up the transmitter and is carrying it around this limited territory. But there are no sheep barns within the zone of PTT signals. The nearest sheep yard is in 600 m from the border of this zone. Besides, all the signals were coming from the pasture where only the sheep from the nearest sheep barn can graze (all pastures here are strictly divided between various sheep holders, and no one would allow strange cattle to come to their own pasture). However, if our assumption is true, it is not clear why no signal has come from the nearest sheep pasture (even the night signal from 22 May 2003 came from beyond its limits).

During the last visit we talked with the shepherd from this sheep operation, telling him about the Siberian Crane and how we study its migration. The old man promised to let us know if he learns something or finds a bird or a ring. When we recently returned for another visit this shepherd was not there but we had a long conversation with his adult son who told us that neither he nor his father found or seen anything of interest to us. We explained to him that the PTT signals continue to come only from their pasture. We emphasized in every possible way that we are not from the regional nature protection bodies and are engaged only in pure science and that there will be no trouble to those who found a dead crane or a ring with the PTT. We also mentioned that the bird might have lost a ring and flew further north without the transmitter, etc. During these two meetings with the herdsmen both the old man and his son talked to us in a friendly manner, expressed willingness to help but claimed that they do not know anything about cranes in the area.

Our last inspection of the territory carried out on 11 July has not brought any results. Now we had two tasks: 1) to visit the shepherds from the nearest sheep yard once again; 2) to examine the location of the night signal from 8 June that came with a good accuracy and to survey in detail a zone where the last signals overlap.

The herdsmen could not tell us anything new. They were nice to us and looked quite sincere. It was obvious now that they do not perceive us as regional or federal officials and did not have any reason to conceal something from us.

Detailed inspection of the location of the 8 June night signal has changed our opinion that the crane could not stay in this place. It is quite far from all sheep barns and is located in an area of shallow ravine stream with reeds. We closely surveyed the territory within the radius of 150-200 m from the signal origination location, both its open steppe part and a strip of reeds along the stream. Absolutely no crane remains or feathers were found at this site. Of course, if the bird has dropped off the transmitter there (especially in the thick reeds), it would have been extremely difficult to find.

A search of the reed thickets revealed small patches (10-100 m²) well hidden inside the widest reed strips (up to 20-25 m wide, in some places 30-40 m) where the reeds grow thinner, even creating small openings with grass and blackberries. These tiny “islands” could provide a crane with shelter, roosting place and even food (mostly animals - frogs, snakes, various water invertebrates, ground insects such as locusts and dragonflies, etc.).

Inspection of reeds gave us an idea that we cannot completely rule out the possibility of the bird staying here all this time, feeding and moving from one strip of reeds in the ravine stream to another and remaining unnoticed by people. At least, this assumption could explain why no PTT signals came from places close to sheep barns (the bird was staying as far away from sheep and shepherds as possible). Also, it would be difficult for a crane to leave this area since outside this ravine system practically the entire plain is developed into farm land; there are large settlements on the south and on the north of this area, and the sea coast on the east where there are no wetlands suitable for cranes. Besides, the nearby sand quarries create a high level of disturbance. Nevertheless, we have not found any reliable traces of crane staying in this area for a long time (such as excrements, feathers, etc.). It means that the probability of finding a live Siberian Crane here is very insignificant but still possible.

Fore more information:

Gadzhibek Dzhamirzoev

Institute of Ecology of Daghestan

Sergey Bukreev

Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biology