高山兀鹫繁殖期交配及筑巢行为初步观察

高山兀鹫(Gyps himalayensis)在海拔2 400~4 800 m的悬崖峭壁之上营巢,行为观测难度较大,资料匮缺。2013年至2015年,在天山采用样线调查法、问卷调查法,寻找到上百个巢穴。通过布设红外自动相机的方法,对高山兀鹫繁殖期巢内行为进行拍摄,同时结合焦点动物取样法和瞬时扫描法,对其交配及巢内行为进行观察和研究。共拍摄11万张照片,选出有效照片2 150张。对繁殖期行为进行了描述和定义,共7大类16种行为。根据照片逐一对比每种行为,统计各种行为拍摄张数及所占比例,其中,交配135张(6.3%),筑巢403张(18.7%),休息420张(19.5%),警戒375张(17.4%),保养335张(15.6%),运动200张(9.3%),其他282张(13.1%)。照片记录显示,交配行为从1月16日持续到3月2日,在一天的8:00~16:00时间段内,除9:00~10:00时没有记录到交配行为外,其余时间段内都有发生。交配行为次数(张数)在13:00~14:00时达到高峰,与气温同期达到高峰。交配过程持续8~15 s。筑巢期间,巢材由雌雄兀鹫运输,雌性负责将巢材放入巢中,整理、铺垫和修缮。筑巢行为在白天有三个高峰期,分别为11:00~12:00时、13:00~14:00时和15:00~16:00时。在每个高峰期后,往往出现一个短暂的低谷期。冬季食物短缺,照片显示雕鸮(Bubo bubo)、雪豹(Uncia uncia)等食肉动物进入巢内,对兀鹫繁殖造成干扰,甚至中断繁殖。作为高原健康指示物种,高山兀鹫生存状况不容乐观,急需加强保护。

Observation of the Mating and Nesting Behavior of Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) during the Breeding Period

Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) is preference to nest on the high cliffs (from 2400m to 4800m asl.). It is an almost endemic species to China and it is relatively rare in neighboring countries. Research on the behavior is very difficult and methods are primitive. We search about hundred nests by the line survey and questionnaire methods in Tianshan. To survey and monitor the mating and other nest behavior of Himalayan Vulture during the breeding period, we set infra-red cameras near nests from 2013 to 2015. The behavioral scanning method also used in it. The cameras took about 110 thousands photos, we selected 2150 valid photos. Seven types of behaviors were identified as mating, nesting, resting, alerting, maintain, locomotion and other including all the behaviors not mentioned above. Among which 135 (6.3%) was mating, 403 (18.7%) was nesting, 420 (19.5%) was resting, 375 (17.4%) was alerting, 335 (15.6%) was maintain, 200 (9.3%) was locomotion, 282 (13.1% ) was other. Mating behavior was the highest at 13:00-14:00 during the study period, which has a close relation with air temperature. The peak of nesting occurred 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00. After each nesting peak, a short trough often appeared behind it. In winter food shortage is a big problem during the breeding period. Photos show the predators into the vulture nest, such as eagle owl (Bubo bubo) and snow leopard (Uncia uncia), the reproductive of vulture was probably prolonged and ending due to the disturbance by predators.