Behavioral profiles of the captive juvenile whooping crane as an indicator of post‐release survival

Predation by bobcats (Lynx rufus) is the major cause of mortality in captive‐reared whooping cranes (Grus americana) released into the wild to establish a nonmigratory flock in Florida. This study investigated whether rearing methods (parent‐rearing, hand‐rearing, or hand‐rearing with exercise) of cranes, and behaviors observed in birds either before or shortly after release in the wild, are associated with survival after release. Rearing methods did not affect survival first year post‐release, which was 55 ±8% in 2 yr (1999 and 2000). Logistic regression revealed, however, that foraging bouts (+), walking bouts (?), and body weight (?) before release, and nonvigilant bouts (?) after release were significantly associated with survival. These results suggest that post‐release survival of whooping cranes might be increased by rearing techniques that promote foraging. Zoo Biol 0:1–14, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Breeding performance of Indian Sarus Crane Grus antigone antigone in the paddy crop agroecosystem

The breeding performance of the Indian Sarus Crane Grusantigone antigone Linn. was studied in the agriculturallandscape of Gujarat, India during 1996. Detailed records of a total of22 nests were compiled from egg-laying till fledging. Eleven clutches(50.0%) produced at least one chick. Ten clutches (45.45%) weredestroyed due to various mortality factors, and one clutch (4.50%)failed to hatch. Of the 10 pairs whose clutches were destroyed, at leastfour renested. Renesting in the wild was reported for the first time.Egg destruction was mainly due to flooding (12.20%), predation (21.95%)and conflicts with farmers (14.64%). Predation accounted for 31.58% ofchick mortality. The egg and chick mortality factors identified wereunique to the agricultural ecosystem. The number of chicks that hatched andof chicks fledged per nest did not differ significantly in differentmicrohabitats. Hatching success was higher in non-cultivableagricultural marshland (68.18%) compared to paddy cultivated marshland(38.48%), mainly due to human disturbance and higher predation risk.Overall breeding success was 19.51%. Juveniles comprised only 8.96% ofthe total number of Sarus Cranes sighted during the post-breedingperiod. One of the causes of poor breeding performance in theagricultural landscape was increasing conflict with the farmers, whosuffer economic loss due to nesting in the crop field. If compensated,farmers may help in Sarus Crane conservation efforts.     

黑颈鹤在新疆罗布泊和昆仑山分布及种群状况

黑颈鹤(Grus nigricollis)俗称"吐尔那",在新疆罕见,主要分布在与西藏和青海接壤的阿尔金山、昆仑山、喀喇昆仑山区.作者1985～2010年间在若羌(祁曼塔格、东昆仑山、阿尔金山)、且末(吐拉牧场、车尔臣河流域)、和田(阿克赛钦湖)、墨玉、皮山(喀拉喀什河流域)、叶城(叶尔羌河流域)等地记录到黑颈鹤.采用...     

白鹤冷冻精液人工授精实验

为了探索鹤类精液冷冻保存和使用技术,2003～2005年,进行了白鹤(Grus leucogeranus)的冷冻精液保存及人工授精实验。使用Beltsville家禽精液稀释液作为白鹤精液稀释液,12%的二甲基亚砜(DMSO)为冷冻液。精液样本冷冻经过三个阶段的降温,最后保存在液氮中。成功保存了编号93001雄性白鹤精液36 支（0.2 ml/支）。冷冻精液在0~4℃冰水中解冻3~5 min,解冻后白鹤精液精子活率为29.3%±15.5%（n=16）,2004和2005年分别为92101号雌鹤产的两窝卵进行人工授精实验,2年共产卵5枚,其中1枚卵受精并成功孵化。实验发现在雌鹤产卵前一周和产卵期间每天输精,并增加每次输精量,同时在产完1枚卵后4 h内完成一次输精,效果最佳。     

Food consumption and retention time in captive whooping cranes (Grus americana)

Food consumption, digesta retention time, and food preference were measured for captive whooping cranes fed pelleted diets. The basal commercial diet was compared to four mixtures containing 70% basal and 30% of one of four important winter foods for the whooping crane: blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), wolfberry fruit (Lycium carolinianum), live oak acorn (Quercus virginiana), or common Rangia clam (Rangia cuneata). Because captive birds would not eat whole foods, we were prevented from direct food preference tests. Food passed through the gut rapidly, with almost complete elimination within 7 hr. There was some indication that retention time was shorter for the low fiber and high ash and calcium clam diet. Cranes ate less wolfberry feed (g/day) than the other feeds, and all birds ate less wolfberry feed on the day it was first fed, compared to basal diet the previous day. Birds ate more low energy feed than high energy feed. Due to combined effects of low energy content, lower metabolizable energy coefficients, and reduced feed consumption, less energy was assimilated for study diets than basal diet. Apparent shorter retention times for some diets containing whooping crane foods may partly explain lower digestibilities and metabolizable energy of winter whooping crane foods compared to commercial crane diet. Zoo Biol 16:519–531, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

黑颈鹤(Grus nigricolus)种群生态及濒危等级评估

黑颈鹤的种群总量有５０００～６０００只个体,主要分布在青藏高原和云贵高原,分布区约２２×１０５ｋｍ２,占有面积约５４００ｋｍ２。青藏高原北部和西部为其繁殖区,越冬区主要在雅鲁藏布江河谷中段、喜马拉雅山脉南坡及云贵高原部分区域,青藏高原东部为其迁徙途径之地。越冬时以家族、同种群及混合群（主要与灰鹤Ｇｒｕｓｇｒｕｓ和斑头雁Ａｎｓｅｒｉｎｄｉｃｕｓ）形式集群活动。繁殖期分化为非繁殖群和繁殖对（Ｂｒｅｄｉｎｇｐａｉｒ）两种类型。繁殖对能否成功地占有领域是繁殖成败的关键。笔者认为该物种依ＩＵＣＮ（１９９４）标准应列为易危级（Ｖｕｌｎｅｒａｂｌｅ,ＶＵ）     

Migration routes and stopover sites of Black-necked Cranes determined by satellite tracking

ABSTRACT.   Because their breeding and wintering areas are in remote locations, little is known about the biology of Black-necked Cranes ( Grus nigricollis ), including their migratory behavior. Using satellite telemetry, we monitored the migration of Black-necked Cranes ( N = 6) in China to determine migration routes and the location of stopover sites. From 2005 to 2007, four cranes were tracked during two spring migrations and one fall migration, one was tracked during one spring and one fall migration, and one was tracked during one spring migration. On average, the cranes made seven flights over a 5-d period to migrate 651 km to breeding areas in the spring. In the fall, birds averaged six flights in 5 d to migrate 694 km. The routes traveled by cranes during spring and autumn migration were similar. Both the migration distances and duration of migration are the shortest reported for any crane species to date. Most stopover sites were in areas along rivers and close to wetlands in the Daliang Mountains and the Ruoergai Plateau. Conservation measures are needed to reduce habitat loss (wetland and pasture) in the Daliang Mountains and establish a reserve for stopover sites in the Ruoergai marshes, such as Longriba and Bai River in Hongyuan County.     

东昆仑-阿尔金山地区黑颈鹤种群分布与秋季数量变化

黑颈鹤(Grus nigricollis)是青藏高原特有物种,在新疆主要分布在与青海、西藏相邻的阿尔金山、东昆仑山地区。2011年9～11月,对该地区黑颈鹤的分布、种群大小、数量变化、生存状况等进行了详细调查。在乌尊硝尔、铁木里克乡、玉素甫阿勒克、鸭子泉、阿达滩、祁曼塔格乡、吐拉牧场等25个样点,都观察到有黑颈鹤分布。利用样点调查法和直接计数法,重复调查164次,共记录到黑颈鹤158只。其中,在依协克帕提湿地(N37°15'～37°23',E90°11'～90°20',海拔3 903 m)最多一次记录到126只黑颈鹤集群。结合早期的科学考察记录,推测在整个东昆仑-阿尔金山地区共有黑颈鹤220～260只左右。黑颈鹤家庭成员数量为1～4只,4种类型的家庭所占比例分别为5.9%、60.3%、29.4%和4.4%。在10月份之前,主要以家庭为单位活动;10月中旬,开始大规模集群,10月29日集群数量达到最高峰,并开始迁徙;11月6日黑颈鹤全部迁徙离开。此外,还观察到有少量的灰鹤(G.grus)和蓑羽鹤(Anthropoides virgo)与黑颈鹤混居在一起。     

群体规模对越冬灰鹤警戒行为的影响

2005年1—3月,在云南丽江拉市海就群体规模对越冬灰鹤(Grusgrus)警戒行为的影响进行了研究。用扫描取样记录群体的规模和警戒个体的数量、用焦点取样记录群体中个体警戒行为的频次和持续时间,结果显示灰鹤群体和个体的警戒力均随群体规模增加而降低,但集群个体数超过30只后,群体警戒力便不会再下降(P>0.05)、成体的警戒持续时间也会增加(P<0.01);当群体规模超过50只后,成体的警戒频次也会上升(P<0.05)。推测亚成体维持低警戒的群体规模上限值要高于成体,单从警戒行为分析,20—30只个体的集群可能代表越冬灰鹤的最适群体大小。