Autumn Migration Route and Stopover Sites of Black-Necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) Breeding in Yanchiwan Nature Reserve, China

Abstract

From July to November 2018, 10 Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) juveniles were tracked using GPS-GSM satellite transmitters to study their migration routes and stopover sites in Yanchiwan Nature Reserve, Gansu Province, China. By the end of the autumn migration in November 2018, more than 25,000 GPS locations had been obtained during tracking. Migration routes, migration distances and stopover sites were determined, and the stopover home range was estimated for each individual. Individuals moved away from Yanchiwan during 2-25 October 2018 and migrated through Da Qaidam, Golmud City, Qumarleb County, Zadoi County, Zhidoi County, and Nagqu City. In mid-November 2018, the birds arrived in Linzhou County, Tibet, China to winter. The migration routes of all individuals were the same, and the average migration distance was 1,500 ± 120 km. Da Qaidam Salt Lake was an important stopover site, with an average stopover duration of 27.11 ± 8.43 d, and the average stopover range of the Black-necked Cranes at Da Qaidam was 27.4 ± 6.92 km2. Through field monitoring and satellite maps, the main habitats were determined to be grasslands and wetlands.