A note on the breeding of the Great Bustard Otis tarda on Sootav Plain, Boukan, northwestern Iran

The breeding activities of the Great Bustard Otis tarda were studied on the Sootav plainin its main breeding ground in north-western Iran.Of five nests, the first and the last nests were discovered on 7 May with 3 eggs and on 20 May with 2 eggs, respectively. Mean clutch size was 2.8±0.44 and the mean distance to the nearest village and road were 2460± 896.1 and 2615.2±1284 m,respectively. Observations showed that the mean distance of each nest to the nearest nest was also 1334±856.6 m. The breeding population of the Great Bustard on the Sootav plain has declined compared to previous years because of a reduction in thequality of its breeding habitat.