A survey on current distribution and habitat suitability of the Great Bustard in West Azerbaijan, Iran

Great Bustard (Otis tarda) as a vulnerable species is exposed to the extinction risk mainly due to habitat destruction and hunting pressure. This study was conducted to assess the species current geographical range and its habitat suitability in north western parts of Iran. Based on previous investigations and observations, I mapped current habitats of the species using GIS and the important ecological variables affecting the species habitat usage were modeled by Ecological Niche factor Analysis (ENFA). The results show that the species geographical range is limited to the areas habitats like Sutav, Yngijeh, Alblagh, and Qazelian Plains. ENFA analysis indicated that Great Bustard tends to live in marginal habitats and is a very sensitive species in the study area. The suitability map depicts that 6.5% of the study area is the suitable for the species, however, this value is not consistent with the current habitats in terms of area and location.