无人机调查白鹤种群数量和越冬分布

白鹤(Leucogeranus Leucogeranus)是国家Ⅰ级重点保护野生动物，唯一一种极度濒危(CR)鹤类，分布和种群数量是评估其濒危程度的重要参数。无人机调查作为目前生态学研究的一个重要调查方法，为查明白鹤的越冬分布、种群数量及幼鸟比例，于2022年1月使用地面监测结合无人机调查的方法在江西、山东、安徽、湖南、湖北等地的湖泊和农田中开展越冬白鹤调查。野外调查共记录白鹤5607只，网络信息检索在调查区域外的8个地点记录白鹤9只，合计记录越冬白鹤5616只。其中江西鄱阳湖记录到越冬白鹤4813只，占总数的85.7%,主要分布在康山垦殖场、五星垦殖场和成新垦殖场；山东黄河三角洲记录到越冬白鹤625只，占总数的11.1%。安徽、湖南、湖北分别记录到越冬白鹤34,63和72只。对部分群体的白鹤幼鸟数量进行统计，4680只白鹤中，记录到幼鸟674只，幼鸟比例为14.4%,其中湖南越冬白鹤幼鸟比例最高，达28.6%,山东越冬白鹤幼鸟比例最低，为11.5%。调查刷新了白鹤种群数量，证实了山东黄河三角洲是目前除江西鄱阳湖外最重要的白鹤越冬地，缓解了白鹤越冬期过度集中的压力。基于本研究结果，我们...

Using unmanned aerial vehicle for a population and wintering distribution survey of Siberian crane (leucogeranus leucogeranus)

Siberian crane (Leucogeranus Leucogeranus) was listed as class I national key protected wildlife and the only Critically Endangered (CR) species of cranes. Its distribution and population are important parameters to assess the threatened status of the species. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) survey has been an important method for ecological research. To accurately grasp the wintering distribution and population of the critically endangered species, ground monitoring combined with a UAV survey was used to carry out an investigation in the wintering area. The investigation was conducted in lakes and farmlands in Jiangxi, Shandong, Anhui, Hunan, and Hubei Provinces in January, 2022. We used a high-powered telescope for searching and counting cranes in the survey area preliminarily. Then we used micro-UAV at altitude of 100-120 m to take photos or videos of crane groups whose numbers were difficult to count. We identified Siberian cranes and Siberian crane juveniles in the pictures according to the plumage and shape. We calculated the number of Siberian cranes, and the ratios of Siberian crane juveniles in each survey area. We also searched for the information of distribution and number of Siberian cranes on the Internet outside the survey area. A total of 5616 Siberian cranes were recorded, with 5607 of them recorded by field survey, and 9 of them recorded on Internet information. There were 4813 Siberian cranes wintering in Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province, accounting for 85.7% of the total, mainly distributed in Kangshan farmlands, Wuxing farmlands, and Chengxin farmlands. 625 Siberian cranes were wintering in the Yellow River Delta, Shandong Province, accounting for 11.1% of the total, and 34, 63, and 72 Siberian cranes wintering in Anhui, Hunan, and Hubei Province, respectively. 674 Siberian crane juveniles were counted among the total of 4680 individuals. The ratio of Siberian crane juveniles was 14.4%. The ratio of Siberian crane juveniles in Hunan was the highest, accounting for 28.6%, and that in Shandong was the lowest, accounting for 11.5%. The numbers of Siberian cranes updated by our survey. Based on our research, we estimated that the population of Siberian cranes had reached 5500, and the number of mature individuals had reached 3000. The threatened status of this species needs a more detailed assessment. Our research confirmed that the Yellow River Delta was the most crucial wintering area except Poyang Lake. The numbers of Siberian cranes were more than 10% of the total, which dispersed the wintering individuals and alleviated the pressure of individuals'' excessive concentration in wintering area. Our research also provided a case for the application of a UAV survey on waterbird monitoring research.