BATBAYAR GALTBALT
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Cornell University - Ithaca, NY 14850
Email: bg423@cornell.edu
EDUCATION
2018 - 2022 | PhD, School of life and environmental sciences, Deakin University, Australia
Thesis: Weather and climate change effects on avian migrants
Supervisor: Dr. Marcel Klaassen
2006 - 2008 | Master of Science, Ecology and Conservation Biology, National University of Mongolia
Thesis: Bird community structure in the small Gobi strictly protected area ‘a’
Supervisor: Dr. Kh.Terbish
2002 - 2006 | Bachelor’s degree, Ecology and Conservation Biology, National University of Mongolia
Thesis: Local herders attitude towards Khulan (Equus hemionus hemionus) in Small Gobi SPA
Supervisors: Dr. Kh.Terbish, J.Jargal
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENT
2023 - current | Postdoctoral Associate, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, USA
Studying macro-demography of North American birds using eBird citizen science dataset and other climatic models.
2018 - 2022 | PhD Candidate, Deakin University, Australia
Explored how birds select their flight altitude and migration routes in relation to various conditions both in the atmosphere and on the ground.
2015 - 2018 | Wildlife Ecologist, Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia
Monitored breeding population of the White-naped crane. Led fieldworks, data analyses and curation.
2014, Sep - Nov | Research Associate, Cardiff University, UK
Extracted DNA from Saker falcon feathers and ran microsatellite PCR for sex and individual identification.
2012 - 2015 | Project Manager, Wildlife Science and Conservation Center (WSCC) of Mongolia
Led project team to implement 5000 artificial nest box monitoring program.
2011, Mar - Apr | Internship, Zoological Society of London, UK
Compilation of the summary conservation action plan for Mongolian birds.
2008 - 2011 | Research Coordnator, ZSL's Steppe Forward Programme in Mongolia
Field team leader for the Wildlife Picture Index (WPI) project. Assisted in organizing summer ecological field course for undergraduates.
2006 - 2008 | Project Assistant, ZSL's Steppe Forward Programme in Mongolia
Assisted for community based conservation project implemented in the Gobi PAs.
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
2024 | Zhang, Y., Z. Gu, B. Bold, B. Davaasuren, B. Galtbalt, A. Gungaa, G. Purev-Ochir, N. Batbayar, L. Rahman, X. Li, Q. Dai, X. Zhan, and A. Dixon. 2024. Environmental effects on reproduction in a managed population of the harvested and Endangered Saker Falcon Falco cherrug . Bird Conservation International 34:e4.
2022 | Galtbalt, B., Natsagdorj, Ts., Sukhbaatar, T., Mirande, C., Archibald, G., Batbayar, N., Klaassen, M., 2022. Breeding and migration performance metrics highlight challenges for White-naped cranes. Scientific Reports, 12
2022 | Galtbalt, B., Batbayar, N., Tuvshintugs, S., Vorneweg, B., Heine, G., Müller, U., Wikelski, M., Klaassen, M., 2022. Differences in on-ground and aloft conditions explain seasonally different migration paths in Demoiselle crane, Movement Ecology 10:4; Press release: The Bugle Newsletter
2021 | Galtbalt, B., A. Lilleyman, J. T. Coleman, C. Cheng, Z. Ma, D. I. Rogers, B. K. Woodworth, R. A. Fuller, S. T. Garnett, and M. Klaassen. 2021. Far eastern curlew and whimbrel prefer flying low - wind support and good visibility appear only secondary factors in determining migratory flight altitude. Movement Ecology 9:32; Highlighted in Wading through Literature
2020 | Dixon, A., Batbayar, N., Bold, B., Davaasuren, B., Erdenechimeg, T., Galtbalt, B., Tsolmonjav, P., Ichinkhorloo, S., Gunga, A., & Purevochir, G. 2020. Variation in electrocution rate and demographic composition of Saker Falcons electrocuted at power lines in Mongolia. Journal of Raptor Research, 54(2), 136-146.
2020 | Dixon, A., Ward, J., Ichinkhorloo, S., Erdenechimeg, T., Galtbalt, B., Davaasuren, B., Bold, B., & Batbayar, N. 2020. Seasonal variation in gonad physiology indicates juvenile breeding in the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug). Avian Biology Research, 17.
2019 | Dixon, A., Rahman, ML., Galtbalt, B., Bold, B., Davaasuren, B., Batbayar, N., & Sugarsaikhan, B. Mitigation techniques to reduce avian electrocution rates. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 43(3), 476-83.
2017 | Dixon, A., Rahman, M. L., Galtbalt, B., Gunga, A., Sugarsaikhan, B., & Batbayar, N. Avian electrocution rates associated with density of active small mammal holes and power-pole mitigation: Implications for the conservation of Threatened raptors in Mongolia. Journal for Nature Conservation, 36, 14-19.
2013 | Dixon, A., G. Purev-Ochir, B. Galtbalt, and N. Batbayar. The Use of Power Lines by Breeding Raptors and Corvids in Mongolia: Nest-Site Characteristics and Management Using Artificial Nests. Journal of Raptor Research, 47, 282-291.
NON-PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
2014 | Townsend, S. E., B. Galtbalt, M. Myagmar, J. Baillie, and T. G. O’Brien. 2014. The Wildlife Picture Index: monitoring Mongolian biodiversity with camera trapping. Camera Trapping: Wildlife Management and Research, 45.
2014 | Batmunkh, D., B. Nyambayar, G. Batbayar, B. Batbayar, S. Gombobaatar, A. Dixon, and S. Batkhuu. 2014. Raptor electrocution on the 15 kV powerline. Toodog 1:26-32.
2011 | S. Gombobaatar, H. J. Brown, D. Sumiya, N. Tseveenmyadag, Sh. Boldbaatar, J. E. M. Baillie, 2011. G. Batbayar, E. M. Monks, and M. Stubbe, editors. Summary Conservation Action Plans for Mongolian Birds. Admon printing, Ulaanbaatar.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2023 | AWS Cloud Credit for Research Award
2022 | Deakin University Career Pathway Placement Award
2020 | Deakin University's Centre for Integrative Ecology Conference best oral presentation
2019 | Deakin University's Centre for Integrative Ecology HDR leading research award
2018 | Australian Government's Endeavour Scholarship for PhD research
2014 | British Ornithological Unions' Career Developlement Bursary
FIELDWORK
2019 | Establishing feeding station for White-naped cranes, Khurkh-Khuiten NR, Mongolia 10 days
2017 | WSCC Houbara bustard distance sampling, Galba Gobi, Mongolia 21 days
2017 | WSCC Waterbird catching and banding, western Mongolia 10 days
2017 | WSCC White-naped crane population monitoring, Khurkh-Khuiten NR, Mongolia 60 days
2016 | WSCC Raptor catching and tagging, Khurkh Khuiten NR, Mongolia 14 days
2016 | WSCC Waterbird catching and banding, eastern Mongolia 14 days
2016 | WSCC White-naped crane population monitoring, Khurkh-Khuiten NR, Mongolia 60 days
2015 | Raptor electrocution survey, western Mongolia 10 days
2015 | WSCC raptor nest box monitoring, east central Mongolia 60 days - team leader
2014 | Raptor electrocution survey, southern Mongolia 10 days
2014 | WSCC raptor nest box monitoring, east central Mongolia 60 days - team leader
2013 | Raptor electrocution survey, eastern Mongolia 10 days
2012 | WSCC raptor nest box monitoring, east central Mongolia 60 days - team leader
2011 | WPI camera trapping, Numrug SPA, Mongolia 60 days - team leader
2010 | WPI camera trapping, Onon-Balj NP, Mongolia 10 days
2010 | WPI camera trapping, Khonin Nuga, Mongolia 14 days
2009 | WPI camera trapping, Myangan Ugalzat NP, Mongolia 60 days - team leader
2008 | WPI camera trapping, Myangan Ugalzat NP, Mongolia 30 days
2007 | Bat echolocation survey, Central Mongolia 10 days
2007 | Bird mistnetting and banding, Central Mongolia 10 days
2006 | Bird monitoring in Small Gobi SPA, Mongolia 70 days - team leader
2005 | Field researcher for the Community based conservation project in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan NP, Mongolia 60 days
2004 | Field assistant for the bird and small mammal monitoring, "Khuvsgul lake" project, Northern Mongolia 90 days
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
2024 | NSF Macrosystems Biology Community Virtual Meeting poster presentation
2023 | North American Ornithological Conference poster presentation
2022 | Australasian Ornithological Conference oral presentation
2021 | Centre for Integrative Ecology Conference, Deakin University oral presentation
2020 | East Asian-Australasian Flyway Shorebird Science Meeting oral presentation
2020 | International Water Study Group Virtual Conference oral presentation
2020 | International Shorebird Twitter Conference tweet presentation
2020 | Centre for Integrative Ecology Conference, Deakin University oral presentation (best presentation award)
2019 | Australasian Ornithological Conference oral presentation
2019 | Centre for Integrative Ecology Conference, Deakin University oral presentation
2018 | Centre for Integrative Ecology Conference, Deakin University oral presentation
2013 | Ecology conference, National University of Mongolia oral presentation
2011 | Student Conference on Conservation Science, Cambridge University poster presentation
INVITED TALKS
2023 | Cornell University Ornithological Seminar Series, Flight through flux: following avian migrants in the global change
2022 | Migratory Bird Day in Mongolia, Weather and climate change effects on avian migrants
2022 | Asian Flyways Collaborative for Waterbirds, Why do some birds migrate in a loop? The case of the Demoiselle crane
2022 | National University of Mongolia's Ecology department seminar, Weather and climate change effects on avian migrants
2021 | EAAF Shorebird Tracking Group Webinar, Shorebirds like to stay low during migratory flights
2017 | Argos meeting in Inchean, Korea, Tracking migration of White-naped cranes
2017 | Migratory Bird Day in Mongolia, Their future is our future
2015 | Monthly Biobeer meeting, Ulaanbaatar, Raptor electrocution in Mongolia
2013 | Mongolian Academy of Sciences's Institute of Biology seminar series, Conservation of Saker falcon
2011 | Khovd University, Mongolia, Findings of WPI camera trapping
2011 | ZSL Institute of Zoology seminar series, Mongolian Wildlife Picture Index
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2023 | Guest Lecturer, Birds and Climate change, Cornell University
2023 | Instructor, Movement data analyses in R workshop, Hustai NP, Mongolia
2023 | Instructor, Data analyses using R, workshop, Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia
2010 | Co-Instructor, Summer ecological field course run by Steppe Forward Programme, Hustai NP, Mongolia
2008 | Lecturer, Animal ecology spring class, University of Humanities, Mongolia
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2024 | Course Design Institute workshop series - Cornell University
2023 | Postdoctoral Leadership program - Cornell University
2023 | R Developer career track - Datacamp online learning (completed 13 courses, 1 project, 2 skill assessments)
2021 | R Data Scientist career track - Datacamp online learning (completed 22 courses, 4 projects, 4 skill assessments)
2020 | Scientific writing and publishing - Nature Masterclass online course
2019 | Master academic writing, workshop hosted by Lucie Bland - Deakin University
2019 | Data manipulation using Python - Deakin University
2019 | Data manipulation using R - Deakin University
2016 | AniMove course for analysing animal movement data - Senkenberg Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
2016 | Species distribution modelling course - Institute of Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences
2014 | Geospatial analysis for biodiversity conservation - National University of Mongolia
SERVICES
Journal reviewer: Avian Research, Ecology and Evolution, Global Change Biology, Journal of Avian Biology, PlosOne, Scientific Reports
Organised monthly Biobeer meetings for five years.
Member of Mongolian Bird Watching Club
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Mongolian (native), English (fluent), R (fluent)