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An inspiring young man explores the Central Asian Flyway.

Batmunkh Davaasuren has completed his research and is now one of the leading ornithologists in Mongolia. Born in the city of Bayannuur, Bulgan Province, he moved with his family to Duut, in Khovd Province, at the age of four. As a child, he grew up as a shepherd and spent a lot of time in nature. This freedom sparked his early love for nature and his desire to travel the world.

Batmunkh developed a strong passion for geography and biology during his time at school, excelling particularly in a biology Olympiad. His impressive performance led him to the National University of Mongolia, where he pursued intensive studies in ornithology. In his second year, he began participating in ornithological field research and worked as a student assistant, which greatly influenced his development as an ornithologist. He gained invaluable experience with Martin Gilbert from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), learning essential research and observation techniques.

After graduating with a degree in genetics and molecular biology from the National University of Mongolia, Batmunkh initially worked at the National Center for Zoonotic Diseases. He later transitioned to the Wildlife Science and Conservation Center (WSCC) as a field biologist, where he made significant contributions to the Saker Falcon Research and Conservation Project. For his master's thesis, he investigated the mortality of birds of prey on 15 kV power lines and tested various methods to reduce bird fatalities.

Following the completion of his master’s degree, Batmunkh continued his work as an ornithologist in the Mongolian Migratory Bird Program at the WSCC. He played a key role in establishing three bird ringing stations in Mongolia, which have recorded over 90,000 birds from 309 different species since 2015.

In addition to his fieldwork, Batmunkh has fitted over 1,500 birds of 60 different species with GPS transmitters. This work has provided valuable data for migration research and has significantly enhanced our understanding of bird species in Asia. He has also mentored seven students, served as a reviewer for academic theses, and published 48 scientific articles in prestigious journals, including Scientific Reports, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Ecography, and Nature Communications.

With support from the HSF program, Batmunkh and his team focused on tagging Bar-headed Geese in western Mongolia, a region where little is known about this species. Batmunkh believes that the Bar-headed Goose can serve as a key species for the conservation of the Central Asian Flyway, an important initiative aimed at protecting over 600 migratory bird species across 30 countries. In light of the numerous threats these species face, he advocates for increased cooperation among the countries involved to ensure the conservation of these invaluable birds.

This work highlights Batmunkh's strong commitment to conservation and his vision to make a significant contribution to the preservation of global bird populations.