Siberian Crane Flyway News

SIBERIAN CRANE FLYWAY NEWS

Siberian Cranes at Momoge NNR, China. Photo by S. Sleptsov

#10 December 2008

Compiled by Elena Ilyashenko ICF/CMS Siberian Crane Flyway Coordinator

1 Contents

Information from Breeding and Summering Sites 2008 Eastern Flyway Monitoring of the Siberian Crane Breeding Sites in Kytalyk, Yakutia, Russia (Mikhail Stishov & Inga Bysykatova) (4) Changes in Landscape Elements on the Siberian Crane Eastern Population Breeding Grounds and Their Long-term Dynamics According to Aerial and Remote Sensing Data (Anatoly Pshennikov & Nikolai Germogenov) (6) Survey of the Siberian Crane Breeding Area in Kytalyk, Yakutia, Russia, in 2008 (Yuri Markin & Sergei Sleptsov) (8) Siberian Crane Sightings in the Lena River Lowland in Yakutia (A. Semenov & E. Kolodeznykh) ...... (9) Siberian Crane Records in Mongolia in 2008 (N. Tseveenmyadag) ...... (10)

Information from Migration Sites 2008 Western and Central Flyways Sightings of the Siberian Crane in West Siberia in 2008 (Anastasia Shilina) ...... (10) Sightings of Siberian Cranes in Khnaty-Mansi Autonomous Region (Olga Strelnikova) ...... (11) Eastern Flyway Sighting of the Siberian Crane near Beijing, China (Jesper Hornskov) ...... (12) Brief on Spring Migration of Siberian Crane in Momoge, China, 2008 (Zou Changlin, Wang Bo & Wang Yong) ..... (12) The Sightings of Siberian Cranes in Muraviovka Park, Amur Region, during Spring Migration (Sergei Smirenski) (12) The Siberian Crane Fall Migration in Okhotsky Perevoz, Yakutia, Russia (Maria Vladimirtseva) ...... (13) The Siberian Crane Fall Migration in Liaoning, China (Su Liying) ...... (13)

Information from Wintering Sites 2007/2008 и 2008/2009 Central Flyway Good news from Keoladeo National Park, India ...... (14) Western Flyway The Siberian Crane Wintering in Iran in Winter 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 (Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan & Azin Fazeli)...... (14) Eastern Flyway Land Survey of Waterbirds in the Poyang Lake Region in Winter 2007/2008 (Yu Changhao, Wu Yinghao & Ying Qing) ...... (15) Monitoring Data on Wintering Waterbirds in Anhui Shengjin Lake National N.R. 2007/2008 (Xu Wenbin & Zhou Bo) ...... (15)

Banding 2008 The Sighting of the Banded Siberian Crane in Wolong Lake in China (Bai Qingquan) ...... (16) The Siberian Crane Banding in Yakutia (Yuri Markin) ...... (16) Tracking of Banded Siberian Cranes During Autumn and Spring Migrations (Elena Ilyashenko, Sara Gavney Moore, Dorn Moore, Su Liying, James Burnham, Yuri Markin, Claire Mirande, Sergei Sleptsov & Inga Bysykatova) ...... (17) The Siberian Crane Capture in China (James Burnham & Li Fengshan) ...... (22)

Captive Breeding 2008 The Siberian Crane Propagation at Oka Crane Breeding Center in 2008 (Tatiana Kashentseva) ...... (23)

2 Reintroduction 2008 Release of the Siberian Crane on the Wintering Grounds in Iran in Autumn of 2008 (Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan, Azin Fazeli & Kirill Postelnykh) ...... (24)

Education 2008 Education Activity in Yakutia (Maria Vladimirtseva & Inga Bysykatova) ...... (25) New Ecological Education Activity in the European Part of Russia (Marina Didorchuk & Julia Gorelova)...... (26) Crane Festival 2008 in Kazakhstan (A. Omarova, Vera Inyutina, and Maxim Glushkov) ...... (27) Crane Conservation Programme in Northern Afghanistan (Qais Agah, Hamid Arif, and Gull Mohammad ...... (28)

Threats Fire at the Eurasian Crane Wintering Site in Border of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan (Qais Agah) ...... (31)

UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project 2008 SCWP Seventh Project Steering Committee Meeting (SCM7) (Crawford Prentice) ...... (31) The Siberian Crane Wetland Project Visits the Republic of Korea (Elena Ilyashenko, Crawford Prentice & Claire Mirande) ...... (32) GIS Training for DoE Experts, Islamic Republic of Iran (Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan & Azin Fazeli) ...... (35) Naurzum National Nature Reserve Named a New World Heritage Site by UNESCO ...... (36) Chabda and Kuoluma-Chappanda 10 Years Anniversary (Maria Vladimirtseva & Inga Bysykatova) ...... (36)

CMS News 2008 A Crane’s Eye View of CMS COP9. The Ninth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP9) (Crawford Prentice) ...... (38)

3 Information from Breeding and Summering Sites 2008

Eastern Flyway

Monitoring of the Siberian Crane Breeding Sites in Kytalyk, Yakutia, Russia

By Mikhail Stishov & Inga Bysykatova International Crane Foundation Institute of Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone NB RAS, Yakutia, Russia

The basis of the focus bird species monitoring within Kytalyk Republic Resource Reserve (RRR), a UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project (SCWP) site, is regular observation within the model study area (36 x 36 m) (square 42) with the highest Siberian Crane densities. In reality, the annual observation takes place only in two areas within the square 42 – Yelon camp and Jukarskoe Lake environs, i.e. on 20-25% of the model study area. Moreover about 25% of the model study area has not been investigated from the ground at all. Annual ground survey coverage of the entire study area is nearly impossible due to hard landscape conditions (marshes and tussocks), whereas annual air surveys would be too expensive, and therefore relying on them will not be sustainable. Meanwhile there are numerous (but not regular) data on the adjacent territories in Kytalyk, some of which demonstrate the same Siberian Crane abundance as the model study area. So for a general pattern of further monitoring we propose a system consisting of three components: 1) Annual focus species census and mapping within two restricted areas – Yelon Camp and Jukarskoe Lake environs, which could be done by one group of two or even one person; 2) Regular (e.g., one per five years) air survey in model study area (square 42) with mapping of Siberian Crane pairs as well as other focus objects – swans, Ross’s gull colonies etc.; 3) Remote landscape monitoring in Kytalyk RRR – regular (one time per several years) analysis and comparison of lake and most habitat type’s areas and configuration.

Distribution of Siberian Cranes (pairs, single birds, families, groups) on the breeding ground in northeastern tundra during the last 50 years according to literature and own data. The right picture shows the western part of the breeding ground including the interfluve of the Yana, Khroma and Indigirka Rivers; the left picture shows the eastern part of the breeding ground including the interfluve of the Alazeya and Kolyma Rivers.

By now there are a lot of data on Siberian Crane pairs as well other rare species locations and distribution within the model study area and on adjacent territories obtained during the SCWP. There are proven methods of observation, Siberian Crane status assessment, etc. The big achievement is the creation of the base GIS of the area, which was implemented during the last year. Now we have basic topographic maps, a little bit rough but useful habitat maps, as well as satellite images. Almost all obtained data on focus bird species distribution now is in the GIS and this is already a very powerful support tool for monitoring. To complete the monitoring base the completion of the model study area is needed, finalizing GIS and preparing the comprehensive monitoring manual for use by the next observers. But there are still several problems which should be solved: • The mapping of the Siberian Crane territories, as well as determining the Siberian Crane status, demands long observations from places with good visibility. There are such very convenient points near Jukarsky Lake as well as in the Yelon camp environs, but they are not equipped at all and make the work difficult or impossible in the bad or changeable weather. It would be a good idea to build some kind of shelters there which would provide protection from

4 The Ross’s Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) rookery at Khadaar site in Some large lakes are still frozen in mid June. Photo by I. Bysykatova square 42 in June 2008. Photo by I. Bysykatova

Nikolai Germogenov and Sergei Sleptsov during ground observations In 2008 the water level of the tundra lakes was unusually high, in RRR Kytalyk using motorboat. Photo by I. Bysykatova therefore some Siberian Crane pairs could not breed. Photo by I. Bysykatova the rain and wind and at same time prevent disturbance of the birds; • Moving over the study area is problematical due to landscape conditions and surveys are possible only through long and hard treks. Motor boats could be used only along Yelon River and a couple of its tributaries and don’t provide a means of reaching all necessary places and observation points. The only means of transportation which could provide this is “Argo” vehicles in full specification including tracks and boat engine. The availability of such vehicles to the Ulus inspection would make the whole model square available for regular surveys. But it is need to study their impact in tundra plants; • It is unclear who will provide observation after the Researches used marsh vehicles of “Tugut” during monitoring. Photo project. IBPC could continue the GIS work – map database by E. Ilyashenko maintenance and remote monitoring, but annual ground surveys are the problem. It is clear that IBPC will not be able to continue them. In the current management situation at Kytalyk, under the Ulus inspection with no staff of their own, the only reliable way would be the creation of a special position in the inspection for a biologist who would be responsible for ecological monitoring within Kytalyk RRR and maybe other territories within the Ulus.

For more information: Mikhail Stishov [email protected]

5 Changes in Landscape Elements on the Siberian Crane Eastern Population Breeding Grounds and Their Long-Term Dynamics According to Aerial and Remote Sensing Data

By Anatoly Pshennikov & Nikolai Germogenov Institute of Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone NB RAS, Yakutia, Russia

Geographic Information System software (ESRI ArcView GIS 3.3) was used to monitor changes in landscape elements on the breeding grounds of the Siberian Crane eastern population in an area of approximately 26,000 km2 (limited by tributaries of the Indigirka and Gusinaya Rivers to the north and the Berelekh River to the south). Topographic maps (1:100,000 and 1:200,000) produced as the result of aerial surveys in 1952-1960s, 1971 and 1980; black and white satellite photos from 1976; and images (Landsat 7 ETM+ from 2000 and 2004 and also from 2007) provided the source imagery for analysis. Over a period of 40-48 years, in a region of high density Siberian Crane territories, the spatial extent of nine lakes that range in size from 11.4-49.6 km2 increased by 0.3-2.9%; the area of 16 lakes (from 0.25-106 km2) – by 3-11%; and the area of 17 lakes (from 1.7-35 km2) – by 15.9-31.5%. The only lakes that decreased in area (by 3.5%) were Lake Chonobul,

1960 2000

Part of a breeding site of the Siberian Crane pair #21420 in 1960 (is shown on th left). By June 2000 it had decreased by 28 ha (34.4%). In 1960 the small lake on the isthmus was located 350 m from the bank of Kyra-Uolar-Koel Lake. The isthmus width decreased from 610 m to 280-300 m, mostly on the north side.

with an area over 17 km2, and two small lakes. Two other lakes (116.2 and 74.7 ha) located very close to a tributary of the Berelekh River, had disappeared. The analysis revealed a dramatic loss of lake islands and peninsulas is taking place within the study area. Many isthmuses disappeared, result- ing in merging of the lakes. Further, areas of lakeside lowlands decreased, especially of lowlands close to the southern and southwestern shores. In contrast, the area of lowlands between lakes is increasing due to the melting of underground ice and leveling of the meso-relief. However, the increase in lake size and related decreasing of dry ground is taking place in such areas at the same time. Thus during the observation period a square of lowland at Dolgunnakh Lake increased by 75.5 ha, whereas its water surface increased by 362.4 ha. Further, the analysis also found that two sites (squares 41 and 42) 1,350 km2 each, with a high concentration of Siberian Cranes, showed an increase in water surface area during the past 40-48 years by 121 and 85.5 km2. Analy- sis of spectral characteristics of these two areas (data from the 2000 survey) showed that surface water increase is connected, mainly, with 2 The area of Aleksaichan Lake is increased by 3.6 km flooding and water rise in lowlands, where nesting territories of Siberian during 40-46 years. The peninsula with a former size of 1.55 km2 turned into some islands. More then one Cranes are usually located. km2 of the former peninsula was flooded. The area of lowland of the lake is increased by only one km2, Considerable differences in the speed of increase of observed lakes in while the total area of lake of this lowland including different research periods were discovered. Thus in 1952-1976 the mean Aleksaichan Lake increased by 6.3 km². increase in lake size (n = 11) was 15.6%, but in 1975-2000 – 2.6%. Analysis of precipitation showed that during the first period precipitation

6 was 25.7% more than during the second period. Results of investigation of satellite imagery data for 2007 covered area in 4,900 km2 (including square 41 and 42) is most interesting. According to the investigation the size of large lakes is continuing to increase. Their increase (excluding Khosukun Lake) is 0.4-1.95% in comparison with data from 2000 (n=7). At the same time changes for the small closed lakes (2.2-760 ha) has a multidirectional tendency. In the southern and central parts of Kytalyk their size has decreased Ulakhan Khotol Depression (14 km2) was located to the west of Kyrbyt Lake (27.15 km² in 1980). In 2000 it turned into a lake connected with Kyrbyt Lake with a 700 m wide channel. by 0.5-16.8% (n=19), but in the north- western part their size is increasing by 2-21% (n=6). Probably the decreasing in size of some closed lakes is connected with decreasing precipitation amounts during the last seven years. Particularly, the precipitation amounts in May-Sep- tember 2002-2008 was 45.7% less than the same seasons in 1995-2001. It is important that the number of days with mean daily temperature of 15-200C also increased during this period. According to the study results, the Sibe- rian Crane habitats endured considerable negative changes during quite a short period.

1980 2000

This is the only case of two lakes disappearing between 1980 - 2000. Probably this is connected with their draining into the tributary of the Bereloekh River.

Bakul Lake

1952-1960 1980 2000

From 1952-1960 (1) a narrow isthmus was located between Bakul Lake and a small lake. By 1980 (2) a narrow channel 180 m wide was created. By 2000 (3) the channel widened to 470-480 m. In 1980 the isthmus between the other lakes remained, but by 2000 the large Bakul Lake joined with the three other lakes. The water level of this system became 18 m. The Krugloye Lake with a water level of 15 m is located 1.8 km south. Future changes could cause the Bakul and Krugloye Lake Systems to join, along with Bytynai Lake through the Ogolokh Depression. As the water level in Krugloye Lale is 3 m lower than the water level of Bakul Lake, the water level in the entire Bakul Lake System will become lower after the lakes join.

For more information: Anatoly Pshennikov [email protected]

7 Survey of the Siberian Crane Breeding Area in Kytalyk, Yakutia, Russia, in 2008

By Yuri Markin & Sergei Sleptsov Oka State Nature Reserve, Russia Institute of Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone NB RAS, Yakutia, Russia

On 21 August Yuri Markin, the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project (SCWP) consultant on crane marking, Sergei Sleptsov, staff of Yakutian National Coordination Unit (NCU) of the SCWP and Institute of Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone, Tatiana Stryukova, Head of Allaikhovskaya Inspection of Nature Protection, and rangers Sergei Yanygin and Valery Sleptsov conducted field work in the Kytalyk Republic Resource Reserve (RRR) in arctic Yakutia using a helicopter with the goal of catching Siberian Crane chicks and marked them with PTT. Before, in July 2008, Sergei Sleptsov conducted a survey of the Siberian Crane breeding area in Kytalyk RRR and registered 13 of 22 known pairs and one single crane. Six of the 13 pairs had one chick, two pairs still Forest-tundra in the interfluve of the Kolyma and Indigirka Rivers looks like the Siberian Crane habitats in the forest-tundra in West Siberia. Photo by incubated, and five were without chicks (table 1). Yu. Markin Because of bad weather conditions during the breeding season (low temperatures and snow in June), the number of surviving chicks was too low. On 21 August the team could see only eight pairs and only two of them were with chick. Probably some pairs already started southward migration and left the breeding area. Yuri and Sergei caught two chicks and marked them with plastic bands and PTTs (see article by Yuri Markin in this issue, p. 16).

The southeastern part of Butunai Lake in square 42 is the site of four Sibe- rian Crane sightings. Photo by Yu. Markin

Table 1. The Siberian Crane Pairs Observed in Kytalyk RRR in July and on 21 August 2008

Pair Location Status in the end of July 2008 Status in August 2008 #

#1 Square 42: east of Yelon Camp Pair with chick in the end of July Pair was absent

Pair with chick. Chick On 8 July pair was with chick at the #5 Square 42: Khadaar site was caught and marked same site with PTT #59947

Square 42: lake located south Jyukarskoye #39 Pair without chick Pair was absent Lake Pair with chick. At the same time Wolver- #7 Square 42: east of Jyukarskoye Lake Pair was absent ine was observed at the site Pair with chick. Chick Pair with chick in the beginning of #41 Square 42: west of Krugloye Lake was caught and marked July with PTT #59948

#35 Square 42: south of Khosukun Lake Pair with chick in early July Pair was absent

#22 Square 42: northeast of Khosukun Lake Pair without chick Pair was absent

#32 Square 42: north of Dolgoye Lake Pair without chick Pair was absent

#23 Square 42: north of Brosokovskoye Lake Pair without chick Pair was absent

#33 Square 42: west of Brosokovskoye Lake Pair without chick

8 Pair Location Status in the end of July Status in August #

#24 Square 42: south of Brosokovskoye Lake Pair was absent

#8 Square 42: north of Krugloye Lake Single Siberian Crane in early July Single Siberian Crane

#6 Square 42: east of Bakyl Lake Pair incubating clutch in the end of July Pair was absent

#4 Square 42: peninsula of Bakyl Lake Pair was absent

#12 Square 42: north-east of Bakyl Lake Pair was absent

#19 Square 42: north of Yukyuchan Lake Pair with chick in the middle of July Pair without chick

#34 Square 42: east of Besterkei Lake Pair without chick Pair was absent

#12 Square 30: west of Besterkei Lake Pair was absent

#5 Square 30: west of Mastakh Lake Pair was absent

#6 Square 30: northeast of Pestrenkoye Lake Pair without chick

#18 Square 42: north of Butunai Lake Pair was absent

#17 Square 42: northeast of Butunai Lake Pair without chick

Group of four cranes (prob- #21 Square 42: southeast of Butunai Lake Pair incubating clutch in the end of July ably two pairs)

The Siberian Crane observation at Khadaar site, square 42. Photo by Yu. Markin

For more information: Yuri Markin [email protected]

The Siberian Crane Sightings in Lena River Lowland in Yakutia

By А. Semenov & E. Kolodeznykh “Finval” Laboratory, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia

From 3 June to 4 September 2008 we conducted an expedition by motorboat along the Lena River (from the town of Ust- Kut where the Lena River enters the Laptev Sea, then along the sea coast through Tiksi Village to Cape Buor-Khai and back through Muostakh). The total route along the Lena River was 3500 km and in the Laptev Sea – 600 km. In the evening of 1 August we observed one adult Siberian Crane feeding in the marsh (70049’N; 131037’E). According to information from a reindeer breeder from Khaidyr, one Siberian Crane nest is known on the tundra of the Buor-Khai Peninsula. 9 Siberian Crane Records in Mongolia in 2008

By N. Tseveenmyadag Institute of Biology, Ulaan-Baatar, Mongolia

In 2008 two observations of Siberian Cranes in the central part of Mongolia were registered. • Two Siberian Cranes were seen in a big flock of Whooper Swans resting in the north part of Chukh Lake (49032’16”N, 114039’44”E), Dashbal- bar soum, Dornod aimag. A ranger of Mongol Daguur SPA, D. Chuluunbat first observed these birds on 16-17 May 2008. When we visited this lake on 2 June, there was only one individual left, and this bird was not seen again after 3 June. There were observations of Siberian Cranes in previous years from this location. • I saw four Siberian Cranes, along with 46 White-naped Cranes, 28 Eur- asian Cranes, and 34 Demoiselle Cranes at Khyrkhanii Tsagaan Lake (49009’47”N, 111005’42”E) in Dadal Soum, Khentii Aimag, on 19 August 2008. Biologist E. Malkov (Sokhondinskiy Nature Reserve, Russia) had seen and photographed three Siberian Cranes at the same site

Sighting of nine Siberian Cranes on 6 August 2007 at the small lake north of Sharga on 16 August 2008. Lake, Bulgan Province in northern Mongolia. Photo by N. Tseveenmyadag For more information: N. Tseveenmyadag [email protected]

Information from Migration Sites 2008

Western Flyway

Sightings of the Siberian Crane in West Siberia in 2008

By Anastasia Shilina All-Russian Research Institute for Nature Protection, Russia

Information on the Siberian Crane sightings in 2008 is presented in the table below. Table 1. Sightings of the Siberian Crane at breeding sites and during migration in West Siberia in 2008

Date or month Number of Place and some details of sighting Data source of sighting cranes

Е. Kobozev, personal data 22 April 1(2) Luchkino Village, Uvat, Tyumen Region, Russia from 22.04.2008 Kunovat Basin, Ymalo-Nenetskiy AR (YNAR), May 1 Yu. Shestakov, personal data Russia 6 August 7 Near Salekhard, YNAR, Russia A. Ermakov, personal data 7 August 7 Near Salekhard, YNAR, Russia A. Ermakov, personal data 12 September 4 Luchkino Village, Uvat, Tyumen Region, Russia Е. Kobozev, personal data

Adapted from article by A. Shilina “Information on the Siberian Crane sightings” published in proceedings of “Cranes of Eurasia-3”, in press For more information: Anastasia Shilina [email protected] 10 Sightings of the Siberian Crane in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region, West Siberia, Russia

Olga Strelnikova Yuganski State Nature Reserve, West Siberia, Russia

In 2008 there were three sightings of the Siberian Crane in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region, West Siberia. 1) On 7 May 2008 rangers of Untorskiy Wildlife Refuge (M. Medvedev, personal information) observed a pair of Si- berian Cranes in Untor tract. But these data need to be checked, as the informant was confused with the number of cranes. 2) The second sighting is reliable. On 30 May 2008 A. Kallimulin, resident of Kedrovy Village, observed the large white crane for one hour through binoculars on the north end of Sukhorukovsliy Island in the Ob River near the village of Sukhorukovo, Khanty-Mansi District. The bird had two plastic bands on the left leg: one was green and the other looked orange or yellowish (he said that it was difficult to determine the color of the second band because of the sun reflection). We propose that the sighted Siberian Crane probably could be Vitim, banded with green and red bands on the left leg. This crane was captive reared at the Oka Breeding Center, Russia, and released into the wild at Fereydon Kenar in Iran, on the Siberian Crane wintering grounds, in winter 2007/2008. After release it joined a wild Siberian Crane and both birds started spring migration on 23 February 2008 (see article by S. Sadeghi Zadegan in Siberian Crane Flyway News #9, p. 11). 3) The third sighting was also on the Ob River floodplain on 24 August 2008. V. Gubkin, resident of Igrim Village, noted one Siberian Crane not far from his village near the Syrkovaya Stream. The observer didn’t mention seeing any bands.

For more information: Olga Strelnikova [email protected]

The captive-bred Siberian Crane named Vitim was banded with green and red plastic bands and released at Fereydoon Kenar Damgah in Iran in winter 2007/2008. Photo by S. Sadeghi Zadegan

Captive-bred Siberian Crane Vitim and a wild Siberian Crane at Fereydoon Kenar Damgah in Iran in winter 2007/2008. Photo by Reza Samsami

11 Eastern Flyway

Sighting of the Siberian Crane near Beijing in Spring 2008, China

By Jesper Hornskov Beijing, Beidaihe, China

One Siberian Crane was seen at Beijing's Wild Duck Lake on 27 March 2008 by L. Lander, K.L. Nilsson & D. Rehn. Also five White-naped Cranes, 300 Eurasian Cranes, several Great Bustards and a Saker were observed there.

Brief on Spring Migration of Siberian Cranes in Momoge, China, 2008

By Zou Changlin, Wang Bo & Wang Yong Administrative Bureau of Momoge NNR, Jilin Province, China

During spring migration in 2008, nearly 90% of recorded Siberian Cranes stayed at E-Tou-Pao and Datunxipaozi in Momoge National Nature Reserve (NNR), Jilin Province, China, and only 100-200 cranes stayed at Gulutai Wetland in the reserve. Since early April the crane number exceeded one thousand and then reached more than two thousand until 9 May, when the large group started their northward migration. The first seven adult cranes were found on 17 March in reed marsh in Datunxipaozi, where they stayed 66 days. The Siberian Crane number reached a maximum of 2,183, including 280 juveniles, on 10 April. There were 21 (18 adults and three juveniles) in Gulutai Wetland, 598 (524 adults and 74 juveniles) at E-Tou-Pao, and 1,564 (1,361 adults and 203 juveniles) at Datunxipaozi. The largest group, numbering 1,767 cranes (including 285 juveniles), was recorded at E-Tou- Pao on 21 April. Outside the reserve only 12 Siberian Cranes, including four juveniles, were found at Baiyintaohai and a family with one chick at Chuangyebeipao on 14 April and 31 March respectively. Adapted from China Crane News, 2008, vol. 12(1), p. 24

The Sighting of Siberian Cranes in Muraviovka Park, Amur Region, Russia, during Spring Migration 2008

By Sergei Smirenski Muraviovka Park for Sustainable Land Use, Amur Region, Russia

According to the scarce satellite data, the Yakutian population of the Siberian Crane migrates in the fall across the southern part of the Amur Region in the Blagoveshchensk city area. There are practically no data on their spring migration route. We knew about the Siberian Crane sightings from hunters, but only in May 2001 we were fortunate to observe six one-year- old Siberian Cranes in Muraviovka Park; next time we saw 24 Siberian Cranes (young and adults) in May 2007 (Smirenski, 2007). It is likely that Siberian Cranes visit the Park's area every year but often remain unnoticed due to their short (1-2 days) stopover here. For roosting at the Park, the Siberian Crane picked central parts of vast wet meadows, feeding along the shores of old river channels. During the last ten years, due to prolonged drought, these wet meadows had dried up in their major part so that only some patches are still under up to 5 cm deep water in the spring. Banks of the old river channels are muddy and overgrown with reeds, while the water is 1 m deep at the shoreline. This makes them not suitable for feeding of cranes and storks. On 8 May 2008 at 6 a.m. a group of white birds had been sighted 3 km southwest of the Park's Headquarters. The birds were behind the shrub line, so we could not see the whole flock at once, but 15-17 birds at a time. Many birds were spreading out their wings and holding them in the air for several seconds. Their black primaries, white necks, and pink beaks and foreheads could be clearly seen. At 8 a.m. we could clearly see a flock of Siberian Cranes from the terrace elevated 7-10 m above the Amur flood lands. Seventy birds were sitting on the shore of a narrow elongated old river channel about 400 m from the terrace edge. The birds were mostly resting, some napping, but most of the cranes were Resting Siberian Cranes near the former farm of the village of Muraviovka pruning. Four to seven birds were leisurely wading in on 8 May 2008. Photo by S. Smirenski shallow water looking for food. Once in a while a bird 12 would spread out its wings. Unison calls were heard only several times. The cranes rather calmly reacted to the vehicles passing by about 1 km from their resting place, and only a few Siberian Cranes would become alert for as long as 5-7 seconds and begin listening and watching. After 9:30 a.m. some of the birds began moving around searching for food. At 10 a.m. the flock took off and flew over to the area deep inside the Park territory. Out of 70 birds, 22 yearlings still had juvenile rusty-colored feathers and two cranes were predominantly rusty-colored, which is typical for young birds during the fall and in the first half of their first winter. During our observations these birds were more active than others, moving around the resting site and sometimes wandering away as far as 20-40 m from the flock. At the same time, some single Siberian Cranes and small groups (at least eight birds in total) were wandering near lakes and streams 1.5-2 km north of the flock resting site, looking for food. For more infromation: Sergei Smirenski [email protected]

The Siberian Crane Fall Migration in Okhotsky Perevoz, Yakutia, Russia

By Maria Vladimirtseva Institute of Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone NB RAS, Yakutia, Russia

From 1-6 October inspectors of Tattinski Inspection of Nature Protection, Peter Maximov, Vladlen Nickolaiev and Michail Krivykh, and Maria Vladimirtseva from the Institute of Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone (IBPC) counted 798 migrating Siberian Cranes on the territory of South Yakutia, Tomponskiy Ulus. This total is about 19.5 % of the species’ eastern population. We stayed in the house of Rosa and Alexey Zelepukhin, who watch the migration every year and give their reports to our IBPC. Our watching point was situated 1 km to the west from settlement Okhotskiy Perevoz, on the left bank of the Aldan River. On 3 October, we visited Vasili Federov, Head of Okhotski Perevoz Administration. We discussed with him the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project (SCWP) and ICF International Project «Three White Cranes, Two Flyways, One World». During our conversation he received a telephone call and learned from one local woman that Siberian Cranes were flying over the Administration building at that moment. We jumped out and counted 11 flocks from eight to 80 cranes including chicks. During just ten minutes we could see 481 all together, which is more than 12 % of the eastern population.

Siberian Crane migration over Okhotsky Perevoz Village, This area is open enough to overview large space to see the fall migration. Middle Aldan, Yakutia, Russia. Photo by M. Vladimirt- Usually we could see cranes fly over the Aldan River from its right bank seva to the left. Some days cranes appeared after 11:00 and after 17:00, other days - after 9:00. The time depended on the distance from the place where they spent the night.

For more information: Maria Vladimirtseva [email protected]

The Siberian Crane Fall Migration in Liaoning Province, China

By Su Liying International Crane Foundation

According to information received from Mr. Zhou Haixiang, the Siberian Crane flock size at the stopover site in Huanzidong Reservoir in Liaoning Province, China, gradually increased from over 20 birds in early October, up to 430 birds on 5 November. On 6 November, most of the cranes were soaring up and ready to leave for the south. Over a hundred cranes remained at the site. About 10% of the remaining cranes were chicks from this year. Mr. Zhou said that normally Siberian Cranes leave Huanzidong in late October, and by early November all of the cranes are gone. In fall 2008 the cranes left the site later than in other years. Besides Siberian Cranes, on 5 November, 44 Hooded Cranes were observed at the site. These cranes left for the south the same day. Flocks of Oriental White Storks had been arriving at the site in several small groups of 20-50 birds, and were leaving separately in October for the south. 13 Siberian Cranes at the migration stopover at Huanzidong Reservoir in Liaoning Province, China. Photo by Zhou Haixiang

Siberian (on the left and below) and Hooded (on the right) Cranes over Huanzidong Reservoir in Liaoning Province. Photo by Zhou Haixiang

For more information: Su Liying [email protected]

Information from Wintering Sites 2007/2008 and 2008/2009

Central Flyway

Good News from Keoladeo National Park, India

There was good news from the Keoladeo National Park after a long time! The Monsoon has been good so far and a lot of water has been released to Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajastan State, from Ajan Dam. It is heartening to see the Painted Stork, the Open-billed Stork and other birds. It is going to be a good season for the park. Still, there is a good chance to receive more water for the park.

Western Flyway

The Siberian Crane Wintering in Iran in Winter 2007/2008 and 2008/2009

By Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan & Azin Fazeli Department of Environment, Islamic Republic of Iran

One adult Siberian Crane arrived in at the wintering site in the Ezbaran Damgah, Fereydoon Kenar, Mazandaran Province, Iran, on the night of 3 November 2007. In winter 2007/2008 the two Siberian Cranes (one wild and one released) that wintered at Fereydoon Kenar Damgah began 14 their northern spring migration in late February (see article by S. Sadeghi Zadegan, Siberian Crane Flyway News #9, p. 9). According to information from local people, they were last observed in the area 23 February 2008. On 26 October 2008 a single unringed Siberian Crane arrived on the species wintering ground in northern Iran. The crane landed in Ezbaran Damgah in Mazandaran Province and moved to Fereydoon Kenar Damgah the following morning. The wild Siberian Crane, along with the released Siberian Crane named Neya (see article by S. Sadeghi Zadegan in this issue) started migration on 25 February 2009. As usual, the cranes flew high above the damgah before their departure. For more information: Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan [email protected] A wild Siberian Crane on the wintering grounds in Fereydoon Kenar Damgah, Iran. Photo by S. Sadeghi Zadegan

Eastern Flyway

Ground Survey of Waterbirds in the Poyang Lake Region in Winter 2007/2008

By Yu Changhao, Wu Yinghao & Ying Qing Jiangxi Wild Fauna and Flora Protection Administrative Bureau, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China Cultural and Arts College, Agricultural University, Jiangxi Province, China

Financed by the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project (SCWP) and organized by the Chinese National Coordination Unit (NCU) of the SCWP and Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve (NNR), the 9th synchronized waterbird census was conducted by Jiangxi Wild Fauna and Flora Protection Administrative Bureau, three municipal and 13 county forest bureaus in the Poyang Lake System. Before the census, representatives of 41 survey groups were trained in bird identification in the wild. On 3 January the census was conducted by 41 survey groups with 200 people in 54 sub-lakes of the Poyang Lake System. The staff was equipped with 41 binoculars, 29 spotting scopes and 26 portable GPS units. In total 451,412 birds were counted, including 3750 Siberian Cranes. The largest number of 3080 Siberian Cranes was observed in the Poyang Lake NNR, with 3016 individuals in Dachahu, 18 in Dahuchi, 28 in Shahu, and 18 in Benghu. 257 Siberian Cranes were counted in seven counties of Jiujiang City; and 413 were counted in Poyang County of Shangrao City. A snow and freezing disaster happened in most areas of South China from the end of January to early February 2008 in Poyang Lake. We don’t know how this nature disaster affected waterbirds, so it is needed to conduct further study.

Adapted from China Crane News, 2008, vol. 12(1), p. 16

Monitoring Data on Wintering Waterbirds in Anhui Shengjin Lake National N.R. 2007/2008

By Xu Wenbin & Zhou Bo Administrative Bureau of Shengjin Lake National N.R., Anhui Province, China School of Life Science, Anhui University, Anhui Province, China

Six synchronized surveys on the upper, middle and lower Shengjin Lake were conducted by the Administrative Bureau of Anhui Shengjin Lake National N.R. in winter 2007/2008. Five Siberian Cranes were registered in October-November; three in December-February, and seven in January – April at Shengjin Lake.

Adapted from China Crane News, 2008, vol. 12(1), p.18-19

15 Capture and Banding 2008

The Sighting of a Banded Siberian Crane in Wolong Lake in China By Bai Qingquan Forest Bureau of Dandong, Liaoning, China

On 31 March 2008, a banded Siberian Crane was found by the author in southern Wolong Lake (42°41′01″N, 123°14′14″E), Kangping County, Liaoning Province, China. The crane was banded with a white plastic band ring with black number 195 on the left leg and a metal ring on the right leg. This Siberian Crane was banded in 2005 at the Kytalyk Republic Resource Reserve in Yakutia by an international team (see Siberian Crane Flyway News #7, p. 8). The banded Siberian Crane was observed along with other adult and juvenile cranes*. On 31 March 2008 a total of 807 Siberian Cranes and on 30 March at least 1,200 Siberian Cranes were counted by Mr. Chen Jianzhong, a birdwatcher from Tianjin, at Wolong Lake. Simultaneously, on 27 March more than 1,000 Siberian Crane were seen at Huanzidong (42°21′01″N;122°57′29″E), about 50 km southwest of Wolong Lake. According to a report by Mr. Zhou Haixiang of theLiaoning Volunteer Union of Environ- mental Protection, about 1,100 and 500 Siberian Cranes arrived at and soon left the reservoir on 27 and 28 March 2008 respectively.

The Siberian Crane banded with white plastic band 195 was sighted at Wolong Lake, Liaoning Province, China. Photo by Bai Qingquan

Adapted from China Crane News, 2008, vol. 12(1), p. 39 Bai Qingquan [email protected]

*Editor note: In 2008 the bird was 2.5 years old, still young to have chicks. Probably it was near other families with juvenile cranes.

The Siberian Crane Banding in Yakutia

By Yuri Markin Oka State Nature Reserve, Russia

On 21 August the field work on the Siberian Crane chick catching and banding using a helicopter was organized within the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project (see article by Yu. Markin and S. Sleptsov in this issue, p. 8). From eight observed pairs only two were with a chick. Both chicks were caught and banded with plastic rings and a PTT. The first chick was caught in square 42 in Khadaar Site. It was banded with white-yellow plastic band with black number 00 on the yellow background and with attached satellite transmitter (PTT) #59947 on the left leg, and standard metal band #А145997 on the right leg.

Krugloye Lake is the breeding site of the Siberian Crane The second chick was caught in square 42 to the west of Krugloye Lake. pair with chick banded with white-green plastic band 05 It was banded with white-green plastic band with white number 05 on and satellite transmitter #59948. Photo by Yu. Markin 16 The Siberian Crane chick banded with white-green plastic band 05 and satellite Banding of the Siberian Crane chick with white- transmitter #59948 on the left leg and metal standard band on the right leg. Photo yellow plastic band with number 00 and satel- by Yu. Markin lite transmitter #59947. Photo by T. Stryukova the green background and with attached PTT #59948 on the left leg and standard metal band # А145996. Both chicks started southward migration with their parents in the end of September.

Контакты: Юрий Маркин [email protected]

Tracking of banded Siberian Cranes during autumn and spring migrations

Elena Ilyashenko, Yuri Markin, Sara Gavney Moore, Dorn Moore, Su Liying, James Burnham, Sergei Sleptsov, Inga Bysykatova & Claire Mirande Crane Working Group of Eurasia International Crane Foundation Oka State Nature Biosphere Reserve, Russia Institute of Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone NB RAS, Yakutia, Russia

Two Siberian Crane chicks were banded in Yakutia on 21 August by Yuri Markin within the framework of the UNEP/GEF Si- berian Crane Wetland Project (SCWP) (see article by Yuri Markin in this issue of the Siberian Crane Flyway News, p. 16). Results of the Siberian Crane tracking need to be analyzed in detail. Therefore, below is presented preliminary data, some of which should be specified.

Fall migration

Chick No. 59948

The pair with the chick marked with white-green plastic band number 05 and attached satellite transmitter (PTT) No. 59948 bred to the west of Krugloye Lake in square 42 of Kytalyk Republic Resource Reserve (RRR). The chick started its southward migration on 23 September 2008. (1) On 23-25 September 2008, the Siberian Crane family with the banded chick started their fall migration from the breeding site. The family moved south 80 km from Chokurdakh (Administrative center of Allaikhovsky Ulus) and nearly 125 km from the breeding site to a site located in tundra in the Indigirka River Valley between the villages of Tomunnagas and Shamanovo. (2) On 26-28 September. The family moved to the southwest and stayed three days near a small tundra lake located between Druzhina and Kuberganya and Ulunnakh Villages in the Indigirka River Valley. (3) On 29-30 September. The family moved a further 54 km to the south and stayed two days at a location south of the small village of Khadaar site is the breeding territory of the Siberian Crane pair with chick banded with white-yellow plastic band 00 Krest-Mayor and south of Kuberganya Village. The cranes continued and satellite transmitter 59947. Photo by Y. Markin 17 to use the Indigirka River Valley for their migration route. This was the last stopover in forest-tundra before crossing the Momsky and Great Chersky Ranges. The second family with chick No. 59947 arrived at this site 3-4 days later. (4) On 3 October. The PTT data came in early morning from the valley of a small mountain river crossing the Chersky Range, at an altitude of nearly 1,200 m above sea level, where the family probably stopped for a night rest. This site is located between the villages of Daganna and Rudny. During this long stretch, the Siberian Cranes flew over Khonuu Village, Momsky Ulus, whose residents are involved in the SCWP, “Three White Cranes, Two Fly- Children from Khonuu Village, Momsky Ulus, Ya- ways, One World” Project and Crane Celebration activities. kutia, paint Siberian Cranes migrating over moun- taines. (5) On 6 October. The family moved nearly 1,200 km southwest. The PTT signal came from the Aldan Uplands from a site located near the border between Khabarovsk and Amur Regions with an altitude of nearly 800 m above sea level. The closest village, Toko, is located northeast of the site in Khabarovsk Region close to the border with Yakutia. During this long stretch, the Siberian Cranes flew along the Aldan River Valley over Ust-Maya and Okhotsky Perevoz Villages, whose residents are involved in the SCWP and “Three White Cranes, Two Flyways, One World” Project activities. Approxi- mately at this time Maria Vladimirtseva, SCWP staff in Yakutia, observed the Siberian Crane migration in Okhotsky Perevoz Village.

(6) On 12 October the family left Russia and was registered in China, north The Siberian Crane migration stopover in Okhotsky of the city of Baicheng, Jilin Province. The cranes stayed at this stopover Perevoz, Yakutia. Photo by I. Bysykatova nearly 20 days. This stopover was located not far from Momoge National Nature Reserve, where big flocks of migrating Siberian Cranes stop during spring and autumn migrations. (7) On 30 October the Siberian Crane family moved to southeastern Inner Mongolia. The PTT signal came from a site located nearly Baysgalang Settle- ment, southeast of Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia Province. The family still stayed at this site on 2 November. This location is in the southern part of the Keerqin Desert. There are many sand dunes and also many small lakes and ponds in the desert. The location of the banded crane is beside one of those shallow lakes. (8) On 6 November the family moved south to the Yellow Sea coast in Liaoning Province. The stopover was located southwest of Panjing Town and southeast of Dalinghe settlement. On November 6 No. 59948 moved south Crane Celebration in Ust-Maya Village. Photo by and stopped along the Yellow Sea coast in Liaoning Province. This location is M. Vladimirtseva right on the salt marsh near the mouth of the Daling River. (9) On 24 November the PTT data came from a point located west from Poyang Lake – the Siberian Crane wintering ground. However it could be wrong data, as the PTT data were bad quality. (10) On 3 December. The family arrived at Poyang Lake, the main Sibe- rian Crane wintering ground, in the end of November – early December. The PTT data were received until 18 December. Unfortunately no signals were received after that time.

Chick No. 59947

The second pair with the chick marked with a white-yellow plastic band num- Kuoluma and Chappanda Lakes are migration ber 00 and attached PTT No. 59947 bred at Khadaar site in square 42 of stopovers for the Siberian Crane in the Aldan River Kytalyk RRR. Valley in Kuoluma-Chappanda RRR, which is included in the “Middle Aldan” SCWP site. Photo by (1) On 27 September this family started migration and moved to a location I. Bysykatova nearly 150 km south at almost the same place as the first family in the Indigirka River Valley with the closest settlement, Olenegorsk, located northeast of the site. The pair and their chick stayed at this site during five days, until 2 October. (2) On 3 October. The family had used almost the same route as the first one with chick No. 59948, but usually arrived at stopovers later. It moved nearly 300 km south to almost the same site where the first family was on 29-30 September. It stopped northeast of Kuberganya Village and north of Krest Mayor Village. (3) On 6 October. The family flew 1,080 km southwest along the Aldan River over the Momsky and Great Chersky Ranges

18 and stopped in taiga in the Aldan River Valley at a site located 100-120 km from the closest villages of Ust-Maya to the north, Ust Yudoma to the east and Chagda to the south. The stopover was located 50 km from the border with Khabarovsk Region in the taiga zone. (4) On 10 October the family moved nearly 300 km south and stopped in the Aldan Uplands still close to the border with Khabarovsk Region with closest villages Arbagastakh (Yakutia) and Toko (Khabarovsk Region) located 50-60 km from the stopover. (5) On 16 October the PTT data came from China from Momoge National Nature Reserve, Jilin Province – a known migration stopover site for the Si- berian Crane. On 19 October the family continued to stay at approximately the same site – in Momoge NNR. The family stayed at this site quite a long Siberian Cranes migrate along Aldan River Valley in Yakutia. Photo by I. Bysykatova time, as the first family with chick No. 59948. (6) On 31 October the family moved nearly 400 km southwest and stopped on the floodplain of a small river in Tonglia County in Inner Mongolia Prov- ince with the closest settlement Gun-Holoi near Xipaozi Reservoir from Oc- tober 31 to November 10, but this location is not clear. (7) On 3 November the pair with chick moved nearly 130 km east and stopped in Liaoning Province with closest settlements Faku and Kangping. The family spent at least 12 days (October 3 - November 11) near a large, shallow water reservoir (Wolong Lake). The reservoir is on the west side of Kanping City (the local county seat) in central Liaoning Province. In the past, the water in the reservoir was between 1.5-3.5 m deep; but, in 2003, the reservoir completely dried out and there was no more water. The local government started storing water back in the reservoir in late 2005, and the Yengasy Lake is the Siberian Crane migration stopover in Aldan River Valley. Photo by reservoir was set up as a provincial nature reserve when it was restored. I. Bysykatova Most of the reservoir was covered by aquatic plants in very shallow water, especially at the southern end. In spring 2008, 800 Siberian Cranes were observed at the reservoir during annual waterbird surveys. Red-crowned Cranes and Swan Geese have also been observed at the reservoir. In spring 2008 the marked crane was sighted in Wolong Lake by Bai Qingquan (see article in this issue of the Siberian Crane Flyway News, p. 16). This bird was banded with white plastic band with black number 195 in Yakutia in 2005. This fact confirmed that Siberian Cranes regularly used this lake as a migration stopover. The lake is located 50 km from Huanzidong Reservoir, a recently discovered Siberian Crane migration stopover site. (8) On 10 November the family moved a short distance - nearly 70 km to the southeast to a desert area, nearly 50 km from Faku Settlement. (9) On 25 November the cranes were registered in Zhejiang Province, 1,400 km south from the previous stopover, but the data are probably wrong Crane Celebration in Okhotsky Perevoz Village. This community is also involved in “Three White because of bad quality of signals. On 13 and 16 November we received weak Crane, Two Flyways, One World“ international PTT signals and it is not clear if the cranes stopped somewhere else. In Zhe- project. Photo by M. Vladimirtseva jiang Province the family stopped on the East China Sea coast in Hangzhouvang Bay, nearly 110 km south of Shanghai City and nearly 80 km east of Hangzhou Town. (10) On 1 December the family moved 760 km to the west in Hunan Province. However this signal was bad quality, and probably this location is wrong. (11) On 4 December this family with chick #47 at last arrived in Poyang Lake.

The chick No. 59947 stayed at Poyang Lake until 5 March at least. The next PTT data of good quality was received only on 17 March from a more northern site; therefore we don’t know exactly when crane No. 59947 started northward migration during the period 5-17 March.

Spring migration

Chick No. 59947

(12) On 17 March. The PTT data was received from a location 130 km northwest of Beijing, probably it was transit data or bad quality data. However there is sighting of one Siberian Crane during spring migration 2008 by Jesper Hornskov (see this issue of the Siberian Crane Flyway News, p. 12)

19 (13) From 20 March to 8 April the family stayed in Huanzidong Reservoir in Liaoning Province (probably the longest period, as between 8 April and 3 May we received PTT data of bad quality). It was confirmed by a photograph taken by Mr. Zu Ying, birdwatcher, on 27 March. The marked juvenile bird was still with its parents. (14) By the 3rd May the family had moved nearly 350 km north and stayed in Momoge NNR until 15 May at least. (15) On 24 May the PTT data came from uplands

The Siberian Crane long term migration stopover in Momoge NNR, Jilin near the Chersky Range in Yakutia, Russia. The cranes Province, China in 2007. Photo by S. Sleptsov had moved nearly 2,300 km to north. (16) On 27 May the family reached tundra to fly nearly 300 km to the north. The PTT data came from the point located nearly 160-200 km from Kytalyk RRR. (17) On 30 May the crane moved nearly 160 km northwest and almost reached Kytalyk RRR. (18) On 31 May the cranes still stayed near Kytalyk RRR. (19) On 2 June the crane moved nearly 100 km west from the previous site. Probably the young crane left its parents at this time. (20) On 3 June – 10 June the crane remained in almost the same region. The Siberian Crane satellite tracking allowed researchers to follow the flyway and make some conclusions. The Siberian Crane long term migration stopover at Huanzidong Reservoir in • Siberian Cranes started fall migration in the Liaoning Province, China. Photo by Zhou Haixiang end of September and arrived at the wintering grounds in the end of November – beginning of December. Thus fall migration continued nearly two months. Both families started migration almost at the same time, used almost the same flyway and arrived at Poyang Lake at almost the same time. Cranes started spring migration in the beginning or in mid March and arrived at the breeding grounds in the end of May. The spring migration continued nearly one and a half month. • During the spring migration cranes used the same flyway as during fall migration. • The longest stopovers were in Momoge NNR in Jilin Province, China and in Huanzidong Reservoir and Wolong Lake in Liaoning Province. This information confirms known data.

The Siberian Crane wintering ground in the Poyang Lake Basin, Jiangxi Prov- • Siberian Cranes can stop for a short time near ince. Siberian Cranes are at Cahng Hu Chi site of the Poyang Lake NNR. taiga lake and in the valley of small mountain rivers. Several species are visible including Swan Geese and Tundra Swans. Photo by J. Burnham • Siberian Crane did long stretch over moun- tains and Amur River valley with high people density. • The chick was along with its parents during the winter and spring migration. Probably it left parents after the family reached the breeding area. • PTT quality in Russia was quite good. Almost immediately after the Siberian Cranes crossed the border separating China and Russia, the number of PTT signals received, and the quality of the data received, declined dramatically.

Acknowledgements:

The migration study has been supported by the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project, a six year effort to protect a network of wetlands along the Siberian Crane flyways in Eurasia. Additional support has been provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/ConocoPhillips Spirit of Conservation Migratory Bird Program. The PTTs (30g leg bands) were

20 The Siberian Crane family with chick #59947 at Huanzidong Reservoir in The Siberian Crane chick banded with white-yellow band 00 Liaoning Province, during spring migration 2009. Photo by Zhu Ying and satellite transmitter #59947 at Huanzidong Reservoir in Liaoning Province, during spring migration (27 March 2009). Photo by Zhu Ying

Migration routes of banded Siberian Crane chicks:

fall migration chick #59948

fall migration chick #59947

spring migration chick #59947

manufactured by Microwave Telemetry, U.S.A. Technical support for the crane capture and banding was provided by Nikolai Germogenov, Vice-Director of the Institute for Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone in Yakutsk, Sakha Republic (Ya- kutia) and other IBPC staff – Inga Bysykatova and Maria Vladimirtseva. Special thanks to Yuri Marking for his efforts on getting permits, Sergei Sleptsov for preliminary ground surveys, and Tatiana Stryukova, Sergei Yanyin and Valery Sleptsov for participation in crane capture and banding. Additional thanks to Wang Ximin, who relayed multiple reports of sightings and photos of the banded Siberian Cranes while they were in China, and Zhu Ying, who photographed chick No. 59947 in March 2009 in Liaoning Province, China. For more information: Elena Ilyashenko [email protected]

21 The Siberian Crane Capture in China By James Burnham, Li Fengshan International Crane Foundation

Due to high costs of capture, variability of chick produc- tion, and permit difficulties in Yakutia, Russia, we decided to develop an alternative capture effort of Siberian Cranes on their wintering grounds at Poyang Lake, China. This effort was in conjunction with the International Crane Founda- tion's (ICF) long-term partner, Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve in Nanchang, with additional help from the National Bird Banding Center in Beijing. In the winter of 2007-2008, researchers from ICF attempted to capture Siberian Cranes at Poyang Lake. These capture Siberian Cranes at Chang Hu Chi in Poyang Lake NNR. This group attempts were assisted with the help of a crane trapper from contains two, cinnamon colored juveniles. To the left of the Siberian south-western China, who has successfully captured more Cranes there is a single Oriental White Stork in the background. A large group of Pied Avocets is in the foreground. Photo by J. Burnham than 50 Black-necked Cranes and Eurasian Cranes there. Unfortunately, the physical environment of Poyang and the foraging habits of Siberian Cranes are very different from the Black-necked Cranes the crane trapper was accustomed to in south-western China and no birds were captured by the trapper. Researchers from ICF also brought over 300 snare toe nooses from the U.S. and tried these nooses, but again no success, although the method of toe nooses had worked well on Sandhill Cranes in the U.S., as well as on Siberian Cranes wintering in India. In the winter of 2008-2009, ICF researchers, with more experiences gained from participat- ing in crane capture in the Mississippi National Wildlife Ref- uge and testing in southern Wisconsin, returned to Poyang Lake. Unfortunately, several factors contributed to a lack of success with capturing Siberian Cranes over the six week capture period. Unseasonally high water levels at the begin- Wintering waterbirds at Chang Hu Chi in Poyang Lake NNR. Several ning of the capture period kept foraging cranes deeper than species are visible including White-naped Cranes, Siberian Cranes, Eurasian Spoonbills, Tundra Swans, Swan Geese, Pied Avocets and researchers could place the toe nooses. Towards the end of Common Sandpipers. Photo by J. Burnham November, water levels in the area began to drop dramatically, and the birds were continually moving around the lake basin. Researchers were not able to follow the birds as they moved and, in spite of several hundred hours of capture efforts, the few times Siberian Cranes came close to toe nooses, they did not get snared. Even if ICF researchers had been able to safely capture a Siberian Crane, fit it with a PTT unit and release it at Poy- ang Lake, it appears that the technology is not suitable for use on the birds’ wintering grounds. Two juvenile Siberian Cranes, fitted with PTTs on their breeding grounds in Yaku- tia, Russia, were tracked to Poyang between September of 2008 and December of 2008. Almost immediately after the birds crossed the border separating China and Russia, the number of PTT signals received, and the quality of the data Sunset looking West across Da Hu Chi in Poyang Lake NNR. Da Hu received, declined dramatically. While the birds were in the Chi is in the core area of the nature reserve. Thousands of Siberian Cranes visit Da Hu Chi in almost every year that ICF and Poyang Lake Poyang Lake area, location data from the PTT signals were NNR have maintained their long term ecological monitoring program. not frequent enough, or accurate enough, to be of use. It is Photo by J. Burnham believed that high frequency radio interferences, or intentional disruption of the frequencies that the PTTs utilize, in eastern China caused this problem since other animal tracking projects have encountered similar problems. This lack of accuracy and frequency may prevent us from future satellite tracking of cranes at the Poyang Lake as well as in this region Currently, ICF researchers are working on alternative methods to capture and track Siberian Cranes wintering at Poyang Lake. One tracking method being discussed includes the deployment of UHF listening stations around the Poyang Lake basin and deploying transmitters that combine a GPS unit to record the location of the birds as they move around the system and

22 a radio transmitter to download these data to the listening station. This kind of system is currently being used to great effect for monitoring Eurasian Cranes in the Hula Valley of Israel. An alternative to this method would be the development of a telemetry device that combines a GPS unit with a cellular telephone transmitter. Birds would be fitted with the device and would communicate with cell phone towers that surround Poyang Lake. This technology is experimental, but several studies have used it with success on other large birds like California Condors. ICF remains committed to developing a safe and reliable method for capturing Siberian Cranes at Siberian Cranes foraging near toe nooses in Chang Hu Chi. The large stakes to the right and below the bottom-most group of Siberian Cranes are the locations of toe- Poyang. In spite of the setbacks we’ve recently noose lines. The stakes allow observing researchers to know when birds are near encountered capturing these cranes on their win- the traps. Photo by J. Burnham tering grounds, the technologies that are useful for following the birds on their migration to and from the breeding grounds, such as PTTs, do not appear to be suitable for providing information about the birds on their wintering grounds. Conserving Siberian Cranes at Poyang depends on our ability to predict where the birds will go and how they will behave while in Poyang. Studying how the birds utilize the resources available at the Poyang Lake through the collection and analysis of frequent and accurate location data is funda- mental to this understanding. For more information: James Burnham [email protected]

Captive Breeding 2008

Siberian Crane Propagation at Oka Crane Breeding Center, Russia, in 2008 Tatiana Kashentseva Oka Crane Breeding Center, Oka State Biosphere Nature Reserve, Russia

In 2008 11 pairs of Siberian Cranes bred at Oka Crane Breeding Center (OCBC) (Table 1).

Тable 1. Siberian Crane breeding at OCBC in 2008

Species Number of eggs Period of egg Number of Number of Number of (number of pairs) (number of bro- laying fertile eggs hatched chicks reared chicks ken eggs)

Siberian Crane (11) 14.04 - 15.06 27 (4) 9 9 5

Two pairs laid a second clutch after finishing incubation of the first clutch. Three females that can’t mate themselves were artificial inseminated. A new pair with female and male of 5-years old started to breed for the first time. Unfortunately they broke their egg just after laying. For the reintroduction purposes four chicks were reared with the isolated isolation technique using an ultralight. Three chicks were reared by their parents. As of the 31st December 2008 there were 38 Siberian Cranes (20 males and 18 females) at OCBC. For more information: Tatiana Kashentseva [email protected]

Parent rearing of the Siberian Crane Isolation rearing of the Siberian Crane using ultralight technique. Photo at OCBC. Photo by T. Kashentseva by T. Kashentseva

23 Reintroduction 2008

Release of the Siberian Crane on the Wintering Grounds in Iran in Fall 2008

By Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan, Azin Fazeli, and Kirill Postelnykh Department of Environment, Islamic Republic of Iran Oka Crane Breeding Center, Oka State Biosphere Nature Reserve, Russia

On 9 December 2008 one captive-bred Siberian Crane (female named Neya) was transferred to Iran from the Oka Crane Breeding Center (OCBC), Rus- sia, accompanied by Kirill Postelnykh, OCBC staff, Russia. This bird was hatched in 2005 at the OCBC and parent reared. On 10 December the crane was transferred to Fer- eydoon Kenar and placed in a pen, where she was banded with a white plastic band with black number 185 on the right leg and standard metal band #A16090 on the left leg. In addition, some blood samples were taken from the bird by veterinarians. On 13 December Neya was released at the Ferey- doon Kenar damgah, with a wild male Siberian Crane that arrived in on the wintering ground on 26 Octo- ber 2008. Before release a backpack satellite transmitter (No. 82129) was fitted on Neya's back. After release Neya joined the wild crane, but did not fly Kirill Postelnykh, OCBC staff, Russia, and Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan, staff of with him to the roosting site and stayed at the FDK Department of Environment of Iran and National Manager of the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetlands Project. Photo by K. Postelnykh damgah. On 20 December Neya had left the damgah for a farm close to Suteh Village. Food availability may be the main reason for this change, as Neya has been observed feeding on small fish on the farm. Local guards em- ployed by the Department of Environment watched the bird while she was outside the damgah. Since 5 January the two Siberian Cranes have paired. The two cranes left FDK on 25 February at 10:30 a.m. As usual the cranes soared high above the damgahs before their departure. Previously, the cranes left the area on 24, but they returned to FDK for one day after moving to the northwest. During all winteringthe winter we received PTT data from the banded female. But after the migration starting started the good PTT data came only once (on 2 March: 360368’N; 470334’E) from the northwest Iran near Bujagh National Park, the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetlands Project site. Since that time no PTT signals camewere received.

For more information: Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan [email protected]

The Siberian Crane female Neya was banded with The captive-reared Siberian Crane female Neya released into the wild and wild Sibe- white plastic band 185 and backpack satellite rian Crane stayed together during the winter at Fereydoon Kenar damgah. Photo by transmitter No. 82129. Photo by K. Postelnykh S. Sadeghi Zadegan

24 Education 2008

Education Activity in Yakutia, Russia

By Maria Vladimirtseva & Inga Bysykatova Institute of Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone NB RAS, Yakutia, Russia

The Crane Working Group of Eurasia, UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project (SCWP) and international project “Three White Cranes, Two Flyways, One World” has supported the ecological education at the breeding grounds and along the flyways of the Siberian Crane in Yakutia.The popularization of crane protection in Yakutia has its own features because of the special relationship between Yakutian people and white cranes – Siberian Cranes. Since the time of creating the “Olonho” epics till our days the Siberian Crane has always been the symbol of happiness, faithfulness and beauty, it is a sacred bird. Old songs about the Siberian Crane in the Yakutian language and traditional Siberian Crane dances are always included in Crane Celebration programs in communities of Yakutia. The popularization of the Siberian Crane conservation is accompanied with the introduction of knowledge about how important wetland ecosystems are and how they can’t exist for a long time without its integrity.The necessity of this kind of work is becoming obvious when visiting remote communities. School students who live in remote areas often don’t have a chance to see anything except their village and need our special attention. For example, students from a school in Berelyokh village of the Allaikhovskiy ulus who were taken on a tour to watch the nearest nesting pair of Siberian Cranes, have never seen even the central village of Chokurdakh, Ulus Administrative Center – to get to this community you need to take a 12 hour trip by motorboat over the cold Indigirka River. Teachers and parents often don’t have even colored paper and paints for children. Local Inspectors on Nature Protection and school teachers are our allies that know something we don’t know. Lyudmila Sleptsova, the school teacher in Olenegorsk, the village situated in the Siberian Crane breeding area, organizes unique school bicycle expeditions along a snow road at the beginning of March – April with the help of inspectors on nature protection, who make the trek on their snowmobiles and accompany travelers. During this long trip Olenegorsk and Berelyokh schools students entertain themselves by painting on the snow. In southeastern Yakutia in the Okhotskiy Perevoz village all of the 25 schoolchildren under the direction of Roza Zelepukhina, Forester, participate in the Siberian Crane count during its migration over the village. In the Ust-Mayskiy Ulus Rudolf Baryshev, Head on the local Inspections on Nature Protection, has organized the ecological telecast on the local TV where an an- chorwoman is a schoolgirl. Nadezhda Permikina, Director of Children Creative House in Khonuu Village, Momskiy Ulus, has organized the whole creative sphere dedicated to the Siberian Crane. Ecological education is one of the goals of the SCWP, with responsibility of Yakutian Coordination Union The Siberian Crane dance. Crane Celebration in Petropavlovsk Village, Ust- (YCU) based at the Institute of Biological Problems of Maya Ulus (Region), Yakutia. Photo by M. Vladimirtseva the Cryolithozone. They were joined by other employ- ees of the Institute and the Department on Biologi- cal Resources of the Ministry on Nature Protection of Sakha Republic (Yakutia). Many specialists have grant- ed valuable information for the website of the Interna- tional Crane Foundation project “Three White Cranes, Two Flyways, One World” www.trackingcranes.org/ru. We sincerely thank everybody who has supported our activity in the field of ecological education with a goal to save cranes and other endangered bird species: Claire Mirande, Elena Ilyashenko, Jim Harris, Baron Carl-Albrecht von Treuenfels, Julia Gorelova, Alexey Blagovidov and many others.

For more information: Maria Vladimirtseva Banner with E. Konstantinov’s picture of the Siberian Crane was displayed [email protected] on the administrative building in Ust-Maya, Yakutia. Photo by M. Vladi- mirtseva

25 New Ecological Education Activity in the European Part of Russia

By Marina Didorchuk & Julia Gorelova Oka State Nature Reserve, Russia Noncommercial Partnership “Birds and People”, Russia

A new education activity in Russia was organized by the Russian National Coordination Unit (NCU) of the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project (SCWP) and Noncommercial Partnership “Birds and People”. The events “From the Egg to Flight” and birding rally “Flight of the White Crane” were the brightest of them. The new project, “From the Egg to Flight” was conducted on the base of the Oka Crane Breeding Center (OCBC) at the Oka State Nature Reserve, Ryazan Region, Russia. It was initiated to increase public awareness of Siberian Cranes and wetland conservation. It not only has given answers to many questions about the biology of cranes, but also gave a unique opportunity to see everything that happens

Art competition on asphalt during the Interna- tionl Day of Children Protection and celebration Julia Gorelova, National Manager of the UNEP/GEF SCWP in Russia, handed prizes to win- of the Siberian Crane chick Yugan hatching. ners of the art competition.

in a crane family – nest building, incubation, hatching of the chick, its feeding and teaching it to fly. Not only biologists got a chance to see that all, but also just interested people who love nature. On 4 April cameras had been installed in the enclosure of the Siberian Crane pair named King and Glas to monitor the birds throughout the spring and summer with minimal disturbance. During five month the reserve staff has sent the footage and comments to it to the Russian NCU that has put this information and video clips on the website of NP “Birds and People”(www.birder.ru). In all two thousand gigabytes have been shot. To draw the attention to the main events in the crane’s life (egg laying, incubation, chick hatching, its first flight) different ecological events are timed to them. The project was introduced to the public on 16 April 2008 at a celebration involving over 100 local students, teachers and SCWP and reserve staff at the Oka Nature Reserve. During the celebration local students received prizes for art and writing competitions focusing on nature and cranes, while project staff presented on the significance of the education project and the broader SCWP activities in Russia. “From Egg to Flight” project was presented at the March of Parks on 16 April 2008, on the day when the Siberian Crane pair laid its first egg. About 100 schoolchildren, teachers, reserve staff, Russian NCU and NP “Birds and People” Crane Celebration at Oka State Nature Reserve. participated in the event. Many participants got memorable prizes for par-

26 ticipating in the drawing contest and the contest of stories about nature and cranes. On 15 May the chick Yugan hatched, whose appearance was celebrated on 1 June – the International Day of Children Protection. Participants liked the contest of drawing on the asphalt most of all. During the whole summer nature lovers could watch the chick’s growth and development on the website. And the participants of the summer camp organized at Oka State Nature Reserve were lucky to see it in the OCBC, to see its first flight, to draw pictures and write stories about it. The celebration finished during the traditional Crane Celebration on 8 September 2008. Not only local school students, but children from Ryazan Region schools took part in celebration. Many contests were At Oka Nature Reserve children have possibility to communicate held, participants acted their performances, read poems and did with crane chicks in Oka Crane Breeding Center. dancing, and they got prizes made by the Crane Working Group of Eurasia. The bad weather didn’t prevent the enthusiasts to not only communicate with cranes and see grown Yugan, but to go to fields to watch the Eurasian Crane flying to their roosting sites at the stag- ing area in the buffer zone of the reserve. We thank Tatyana Kashentseva, Dmitriy Antonyuk, Aleksey Blagovi- dov, Ivan Rekubratskiy, Nina Gorelova and Yuriy Kotyukov for active participation in the project. Pictures by O. Shirinya, M. Didorchuk, S. Semernina, J. Gorelova, and N. Gorelova were used in the article.

For more information: Marina Didorchuk Birding rally «Flight of the White Crane» is a birding competition (where participants competed to observe the most number of [email protected] species) was timed to Crane Celebration at Oka State Nature Reserve.

Crane Festival 2008 in Kazakhstan

By A. Omarova, Vera Inyutina, and Maxim Glushkov Dokuchaevka middle school Kazakhstan National Coordination Unit of the UNEP/GEF Siverian Crane Wetlands Project

The International Crane Festival 2008 was organized and celebrated in Naurzum District centre from 13 to 14 September 2008. The Festival was celebrated in the district for the third time: drawings, posters, homemade articles, verses and songs, computer presentations were sent by children from Rudniy, Lisakovsk, Arkalyk, Petropavlovsk and Semipalatinsk cities and Karabalyk, Karasus, Auliekol and Naurzum Districts of Kazakhstan. Nearly 100 students representing 26 delegations came to the opening of the festival, which took place on 13 September at the stadium in Karamendy Village, decorated with enormous stands depicting Siberian Cranes. More than 800 spectators enjoyed theatrical performances, the actors of which were children – laureates of the former and future festivals. All inhabitants of the district center and surrounding villages came to watch the performances of the children and school groups. Amateur groups and groups from children’s creative activity studios prepared legends - ballets about the Siberian Crane and Naurzum land appearance. The settlers dressed in clothes of bright colors and came in ancient carts, and the local people greeted them with dances and songs. On completion of the festival opening the guests enjoyed a holiday firework and merry disco. The culmination of the festival was a gala-concert – a parade of young talents on 14 September. What a great number of songs, author's poems and dance performances were presented for 250 spectators! All of them were dedicated to a remarkable bird - a Siberian Crane, which is considered by many people of the world as a symbol of peace, happiness, long-life, faithfulness and good life; as well as the Naurzum The Siberian Crane dance at the International Crane Festival in Kazakhstan. National Natural Reserve - a pearl of the country, Photo by A. Moiseev

27 which was included into the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in July 2008. The hymn of the festival was «Crane,» a song composed in Russian, Kazakh and English by Naurzum youth from Hasengaly Kamalov and Bakhytzhan Badygulov. An atmosphere of good will, cordiality, light, friendship and peace reigned during the holiday. The spirit of unity of people with nature, as if the Siberian Crane, whirled midair. An exhibition of children’s creative works, as well as an exhibition of wood works of Ansagan Torin from Ulendy village that caused great interest of guests and delegates, Legend about Naurzum settlers. Photo by A. Moiseev was organized at the festival. Judging by the opinion of local inhabitants, the Crane Festival has become the most striking event in 2008. Next year the expenses for organization of this ecological holiday will be allocated in the district budget and the initiative of UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project (SCWP) will be continued, and that will arouse love of nature and native land in the hearts of people. Mr. Tashmagambetov, Akim of Naurzum District, thanked Vera Inyutina, the National Coordinator of the Kazakhstan National Coordination Unit (NCU) of SCWP for her help in the organization and financial support of the holiday. The positive influence of the Crane Festival for the development of the economy, ecotourism and image of the district was mentioned by Mr. Muttakov, Director of Naurzum Nature Reserve, Mr. Amanbaev, Secretary of Maslikhat, and leaders of organizations and Crane Festival artists. Photo by A. Moiseev institutions of the district. The children listened to coordinators of nature conservation programs of the Associations for the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan (ASBK), Edit Mayer from Austria and Zhanna Aksartova from Almaty, who presented the participants of the festival with memorable prizes, with great interest. The experts Rauf and Tamara Sabitovs, permanent initiators and organizers of annual festivals awarded young winners with diplomas and prizes, prepared through the SCWP. The Kazakhstan NCU of the SCWP thanked the organizers for active participation in Crane Festival. It thanked especially ASBK, «Ak Tyrna» Resource Information Centre, Public Associations of «Naursum BioNet» and «Ak Niet», Naurzum Nature Reserve, Naurzum District Akimat and Maslikhat, Public Democratic Party «NurOtan», Central District Hospital, District Committee of Trade Union, «Salem» and «Dostyk» Crane Festival organizers. Photo by A. Moiseev public shops, district public library, House of Culture, RES, Treasury, PCH-16, Local Department of the Economy and Finance, «Arman» Leisure Centre, schools of Karamendy Village, and student L-club.

For more information: Vera Inyutina [email protected]

Crane Conservation and Education Programme in Northern Afghanistan

By Qais Agah, Hamid Arif & Gull Mohammad Non-governmental Organization “Save Environmental of Afghanistan”

In terms of the conservation of migratory birds and migration corridors in Afghanistan, it is clear that a high percentage of the population, including government officials, is unaware of the values of the birds and wildlife in nature. To this end, conservation and education activities have been an instrument that can reach each individual and group in many areas, if it is a permanent and continuous effort. Therefore NGO “Save Environment of Afghanistan” (SEA) developed the Crane Conservation and Education Program with the following goals: 28 • Study crane wintering grounds and migration routes and determine threats; • Provide education activity in related areas through interviews and briefing to government officials, local communities and leaders to ban hunting and habitat destruction; • Provide conservation and education activity through distribution and explanatory methods to local people in mosques, clinics, markets and community gathering areas. In 2008, with the support of ICF and George Archibald, a team of SEA conducted the 4th phase of the Crane Conservation and Education

The Eurasian Crane wintering grounds in the Amudaria River Basin in northern Af- ghanistan. Photo by Q. Agah

The Eurasian Crane roosting site in the Shurtepa Region, Alaik Balh Province, Af- A lot of dead cranes were found because of the un- ghanistan. Photo by Q. Agah usually cold winter 2007/2008. Injured cranes became victims of predators and hunters. Photo by Q. Agah

Program in northern Afghanistan. The team visited Joi Wakil in Shurtepa District in the Amudarya River basin to survey wintering grounds of the Eurasian Crane (which are also considered potential Siberian Crane wintering sites) and wetlands around villages of Sayad and Bagarm that are main migration stopovers for Eurasian Cranes. Joi Wakil Village in Shurtepa District in Alike Balkh province and areas around the Amu River are considered main roosting sites for cranes and other waterfowl. This area is vast wetlands extensively covered by reeds. It is common habitat for boars, jackals and birds such as Eurasian Cranes, pelicans, herons, egrets, storks, pheasants, houbara, Greyleg Goose, and a good number of ducks and other waterfowl. We observed hundreds of cranes in the northern site of Amu Darya in Uzbekistan territory, but it is known that the number of cranes is comparatively decreased. The year 2008 has been critical for many migratory species especially in the Central Asian flyway. Thousands of birds died naturally because of low temperatures and freezing climate, and thousands of others were hunted by people. At the same time, thousands of local people trapped the birds, which have lost their flying ability. One of the examples of critical trapping of birds was in many visited villages. Chimtal district has been another area where thousands of migratory birds, including cranes, were trapped by shooting and by hand. The communities here were witness of ringed birds. Heavy snowfall has also been a factor that left pressure on wild predators’ struggle for food and living. The dead bodies, bones and feathers were evident around the Amudarya River basin, and this critical issue was seen everywhere in the area. Thousands of migratory species were spread from Amurdaya basin into different areas. Correspondence shows that cranes scattered in different areas in Balkh, Jawzjan, Saripul, Samangan, Bamyan, Kunduz and the central and southern part of the country. The communities here indicate that during the winter they have seen those species that were not common before. Many of them were not identified locally. The inputs of the conservation team were substantial in making the community aware of the values of birds and the hunting backdrop. The wetlands around villages of Sayad and Bagarm, crane migration stopovers, were visited in early morning of 15th and 19th of March 2008. We found there hundreds of Eurasian and Demoiselle cranes in the wetlands around Shotol and Panjsher Rivers. Team observation indicates that the serious problems of disturbance and hunting of species happens during official holidays and other occasions when people visit the area for picnic and swimming. In order to mitigate the pressure and save 29 the area for cranes, a strong education program is needed. Beside studies of wintering grounds and migration stopovers and meeting with officials at the local government level, conservation education has been the main part of the expedition. Education programs were undertaken in different villages, clinics, mosques, schools and community gathering areas. There is one central clinic in the Shurtepa district center which is used by many of the villagers. This clinic has been constructed and equipped by the government through funding from the international community. The team briefed Dr. Feroz and Ahmad Shah (designated by the government) and requested them to support the conservation education program by advising patients who visit the clinic from different villages. Dr. Ahmad Shah ensures that many patients from different villages used to trap and hunt cranes to be sold for Visit to school in Joi Vakil Village, Shurtepa Region. Many treatment and medicines in the clinic. The publication developed crane information materials were distributed among students. Photo by Q. Agah by SEA was distributed and explained in the clinic to the staff and the visitors. Some charts were placed on information boards in the clinic. The medical staff in the clinic committed to explain and advise the visitors through the information given to the boards’ charts. The next sites were Joi Wakil School, mosques, local bazaar, clinic and community gathering. The clinic staff indicates that the posters and informative materials provided by the team during 2007 have been efficient and many visitors ask for explanations and have left positive impacts on the behaviors of people pertaining to conservation of cranes. A health care training course is another venue that possibly conveys the message to everyone in the villages. This training course has been organized by the government to train students in first aid services. The organizers provided an opportunity to the Posters with crane pictures were distributed in clinics, mar- team to brief and educate participants on the values of cranes, kets, mosques, bazzars, etc. Photo by Q. Agah habitat, as well the problem of cranes’ decline. The participants requested additional posters and educational materials to be explained in their different villages. One hour teacher training in Joi Wakil High school was also conducted. The participants of the training session were the teachers from different villages. They are the most influential literate segment in the villages that can convey conservation massages to everyone and school students. They committed to brief the students on the status of cranes and other wildlife in each teaching hour. Afghanistan has been a special case for the conservation of migratory species and safe flyways. High percentages of the population think that bird spices are something for food and games. Considering that, it is recommended: 1. Continual studies on migration routes; 2. Provide strong and permanent education programs, using the input of experienced researchers who have been involved in the last couple of years. Use of printed publications, religious scholars, and teachers;. 3. Use students and tribal leaders as possible tools to reach success; 4. Ratification of the Convention of Migratory Species by the government which has not been officially ratified; 5. Organize national seminars in cities adjacent to migration routes and Amurdarya River Basin; 6. During 2007, the government rebuilt the only high school in Shurtepa District. Mr. Chri Bay (principal) requested support to furnish the school with education facilities. This can be an ideal center for conservation of cranes and other species in the area.

For more information: Qais Agah [email protected]

30 Threats

Fire at the Eurasian Crane Wintering Site in Border of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan

Qais Agah Non-governmental Organization “Save Environment of Afghanistan”

Uzbekistan border guards and soldiers have been setting fire to the reed beds and shrubs that covered hundreds of hectares of wetlands around the Amudarya River, the Eurasian Crane wintering ground, and therefore many birds and boars left the area.

For more information: Qais Agah [email protected]

UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project News 2008

SCWP Seventh Project Steering Committee Meeting (SCM7) Rome, Italy, 28-30 November 2008

By Crawford Prentice International Crane Foundation

The Seventh Meeting of the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetlands Project (SCWP) Steering Committee took place in conjunction with the Convention on Migratory Species 9th Meeting of the Conference of Parties (CMS COP9). The main objectives of the meeting were to: • Review progress during 2008 against annual workplans and Phase 2 project targets; • Review the draft project extension proposal in view of comments from UNEP; • Discuss various issues related to the CMS MoU on the Siberian Crane and CMS COP9 Participation at the meeting was complete except for the notable absence of the SCWP task manager, Max Zieren, who was unable to attend due to civil unrest in Bangkok. International Crane Foundation (ICF) staff contacted him by email and telephone during the meeting on key issues. Two members of the SCWP Advisory Group, Dr. Lew Young (Ramsar Secretariat) and Dr. Taej Mundkur (FAO) as well As Dr. George Archibald (ICF Co-founder) joined the meeting. The presentation of annual progress reports was followed by a discussion of cross cutting issues arising from the presentations, chaired by Douglas Hykle (CMS Secretariat). In general progress in 2008 was on track, although delays were experienced in the Russian Federation due to late delivery of GEF funds in early 2008 and related financial issues. The second day started with an update on the status of the project extension proposal, which was submitted to UNEP for

National delegations of Iran and China and representatives of the National delegations of Russia and Kazakhstan and representatives Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) of the SCWP at the meeting. Photo of the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) of the SCWP, ICF and CMS by S. Smirenski at the meeting. Photo by S. Smirenski 31 review on 24th November 2008. Written comments received from UNEP were shared with the meeting and work started on revising the proposals. The Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) followed up with each team after the meeting in order to complete a revised sub- mission to UNEP on 16th January 2009. A series of further revisions followed, taking into account the actual financial situation after receipt of the 2008 accounts from each country. A decision is still pending at the time of writing (June 2009). Consultations were also held on the regional database and communications programme, with the aim of im- proving regional – country communications and the overall impact of these aspects of the project.

Meeting participants discussed about the transition of the SCWP back to the The third day started with a presentation on the transi- CMS MoU framework. Photo by S. Smirenski tion back to the CMS MoU framework at the end of the SCWP, as well as various issues relating to the CMS MoU and CMS COP9. Some key points arising were: • The Seventh Meeting of the CMS MoU will be held in Iran. Tentative dates are the week of 29 November-3 Decem- ber 2009; alternatively the week of 22 November. • A trust fund proposal has been drafted by ICF to support the implementation of the CMS MoU. • The meeting agreed that as Councillor for Asia, Taej Mundkur would provide updates on the Siberian Crane site network (Siberian Crane is an Appendix 1 species) to the CMS Council, which meets just before the CoP, once interses- sionally, and then again before the next CoP. Pending approval of the project extension proposal, the next Project Steering Committee Meeting (SCM8) will be held on 10-11 October 2009 in Harbin, China, as part of a planned series of meetings from 10-16 October 2009. This includes SCM8, project completion workshop, field trip and a meeting of the NE Asia Crane Site Network Working Group. PowerPoint presentations and other documentation relating to this meeting are available from the RCU.

For more information: Crawford Prentice [email protected]

The Siberian Crane Wetland Project Visits the Republic of Korea

By Elena Ilyashenko, Crawford Prentice & Claire Mirande International Crane Foundation

A team from the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project (SCWP) visited the Republic of Korea in October-November 2008 to participate in a series of international meetings associated with the Ramsar Convention’s 10th Meeting of the Con- ference of Parties (COP10). The opportunity was taken to distribute various project materials (brochures, stickers, etc), which were very popular among nature conservationists, and to display banners. The first meeting – the North East Asian Crane Site Network workshop – was held in Gumi on 22-24 October. The themes of the meeting focused on preventing over-concentration of cranes, involving local communities in crane conservation, moni-

International Crane Workshop in Gumi. Photo by E. Ilyashenko National Korean crane dance during the opening ceremony. Photo by E. Ilyashenko 32 Meeting participants at the Nakdong River, migration stop overs of Azin Fazeli and Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan, Iranian NCU of the SCWP, Hooded and White-naped Cranes. Photo by E. Ilyashenko and Claire Mirande, Director of the SCWP, at the session on involving communities in crane protection. Photo by C. Prentice toring, and environmental education. Gumi has a special significance for the workshop in that the Haepyong Wetlands along the Nakdong River in Gumi are an important migratory stop-over for Hooded and White-naped Cranes. Some achievements of SCWP were presented during the plenary session by Claire Mirande. The session on crane conservation involving local communities was co-facilitated by Li Fengshan (ICF), who presented on ICF’s community participation project at Cao Hai in Guizhou, China, followed by the Iranian project managers (Azin Fazeli and Sadegh Sadeghi Zadegan) who shared their experience on community participation in site management at Fereydoon Kenar and introduced the Siberian Crane release program in Iran. Crawford Prentice and Elena Ilyashenko (ICF) facilitated a session on Environmental Education where Elena Ilyashenko also did a presentation on public involvement in crane research and education in Eurasia. A presentation concerning significant achievements in Siberian Crane monitoring in China was given by Qian Fawen and Jiang Hongxing (China National Bird Banding Centre).

On 25 October the SCWP team participated in a Crane Symposium which aimed to introduce Gumi citizens to problems and conflicts concerning cranes and their habitats across the world and involve them in decisions regarding crane conservation in the Nakdong River Valley. Dr. George Ar- chibald (ICF co-founder) told about the necessity of efforts for conservation of cranes in the USA and other countries; Mr. Zhang Dehui introduced the conservation of crane habitat and ecotourism in China, including Zha- long National Nature Reserve, the Siberian Crane migration stopover, as an example; and Elena Ilyashenko made a presentation on efforts related to local people for conservation of crane habitats in Russia. On 28 October – 4 November the SCWP team participated in the Con- vention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) COP10 in Changwon City. It Meeting of nongovernmental organizations on nature protection. Photo by E. Ilyashenko was an inspiring, very well organized conference with a huge number

Building in Changwon City, Korea, where the 10th Ramsar The closing ceremony of the 10th Ramsar Convention CoP. Photo by Convention CoP was organized. Photo by E. Ilyashenko E. Ilyashenko

33 Thanks to Sara G. Moore’s efforts the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetlands Project was represented in the Exhibition Hall along with other national and international projects. Project materials published by the RCU and Project NCUs were very popular among visiters. Photo by E. Ilyashenko, S. Chan and C. Prentice of participants and an impressive army of volunteers who kindly helped participants during the conference and field trips. At the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies, participants were greeted by the Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, the President of the Republic of Korea and other important persons. There were numerous shows and events introducing participants to Korean culture, his- tory and nature. At the conference, a special side event was organized joint- ly by the NE Asian Crane Working Group and SCWP. The side event presented the conclusions of the International Crane Workshop held in Gumi (Elena Ilyashenko) and sum- marized the results and experiences of the activities of the North East Asian Crane Site Network (launched in 1997). The presentation of the UNEP/GEF project included a brief overview of the project's main outcomes to date (Claire Representaives of the UNEP/GEF SCWP from ICF, Iran, China and Ka- zakhstan and