Justification This long-lived crane qualifies as Critically Endangered owing to fears that its global population will decline extremely rapidly over the next three generations following the development of the Three Gorges Dam in China which threatens the wintering grounds used by the vast majority of individuals. If the impacts of this development prove to be less damaging than is feared, the species may warrant downlisting.

Family/Sub-family Gruidae

Species name author Pallas, 1773

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 140 cm. Large white crane. Adults all white, except for dark red mask extending from bill to behind eye, black primaries, yellow iris and reddish legs. Male slightly larger than female. Juvenile has feathered mask and buff or cinnamon plumage. Voice Flute-like and musical.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

3,750

decreasing

107,000 km²

No

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: Behaviour This species is migratory⁷. It arrives on its breeding grounds in late May⁹, and eggs are generally laid in June⁹. Breeding occurs in territorial pairs at a density estimated in the 1970s to be around one pair per 625 km^{2 9}. The main autumn migration usually begins towards the end of September⁹, though birds (thought to be non-breeders⁸) have been recorded on passage over the Volga delta as late as October-December⁸. This migration was recorded in the 1960s to occur in groups of 12-15 individuals⁹. The species arrived on its wintering grounds in Pakistan in October, but seldom earlier than November-December further east^8,9. The spring migration commences in late-March or early-April⁸, with birds travelling in pairs or small groups of up to 10⁹. Habitat It is the most aquatic member of its family, breeding and wintering in wetlands, and shows a general preference for wide expanses of shallow (up to 30 cm) fresh water with good visibility. It discriminates strongly in favour of sites that are infrequently visited by man⁸. Breeding It breeds in the lowland taiga and taiga-tundra transition zone⁷ where it occurs in moss-covered marshland⁹, tidal bogs, marshes and other wetland depressions with unrestricted visibility⁷. It may also breed on brushland interspersed with woods⁸. The preferred nesting habitat in Yakutia was found to consist of damp tidal flat with well-developed vegetative cover made up of typical polygonal swamp associations of sedges and cottongrass (Eriophorum) forming sparse, short stands⁹. In late springs some birds have been known to nest on drier, more hilly areas of polygonal tundra, and non-breeders sometimes occur on high, hilly banks of rivers and lakes and in small depressions between large, elongated hills⁹. Non-breeding Resting areas and stopovers on migration tend to consist of large, isolated wetlands⁷. It winters in the shallows and mudflats of seasonal lakes of the Yangtze Basin⁷, as well as steppes near water, open jheels and swamps⁹. Those that winter in India and Iran use artificial water impoundments and flooded rice fields⁷. Diet This species is omnivorous⁷. Breeding During the summer its diet is broad, consisting primarily of roots, rhizomes, seeds, sprouts of sedges and other plant materials, but also insects, fish, rodents and other small animals⁷. Non-breeding During the non-breeding season it feeds mainly on roots, bulbs, tubers (especially of sedges), rhizomes, sprouts and stems of aquatic plants, and sometimes aquatic animals if these are readily available⁷. Breeding site It builds a large mound of grass and sedge 50-80 cm in diameter emerging above water 25-60 cm deep⁷. It typically lays two eggs but generally does not fledge more than one chick.

Threats The key threat is wetland loss and degradation at staging areas and wintering sites through agricultural development, the development of oilfields and increased human utilisation. For example, limited fresh water has caused marshes in the Huanghe Delta National Reserve to dry up, and the harvesting of reeds by people has seriously disturbed cranes¹⁷. Threats to the eastern flyway include a hydro-electric scheme for the headwaters of the Aldan River basin, the construction of power lines northwards to Yakutsk, and oil and gas prospecting²². Severe drought caused Poyang Lake to shrink dramatically in the winters of 2003-2004 and 2006-2007²⁰. Construction of the Three Gorges Dam will change the hydrological pattern of the lower Yangtze river and may have a major impact on the wintering population. Increasing levels of human disturbance are also a problem, particularly at Poyang Hu. Hunting on passage is the key threat to the central and western populations², and inhibits recovery. Poisoning targeting waterbirds in China, e.g. Huanzidong Reservoir, Shenyang Region, also appears to affect this species. Pesticide use and pollution is a threat in India. Climate change may be a longer term threat to breeding sites, with changes in the permafrost layer causing expansion of lakes and the loss of islands, peninsulas and low-lying shorelines¹⁰. The expansion of lakes and subsequent habitat modification has been ongoing in the breeding grounds of the eastern population since the 1950s²⁴.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. CMS Appendix I and II. It is legally protected in all range states. Range states have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help protect key wetland sites and the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Crane Foundation launched the Siberian Crane GEF Project in 2003 to promote, develop and implement the conservation of key flyway wetlands across Asia for this species^2,7. Researchers monitoring breeding sites in the remote Yakutia region aim to incorporate remote sensing given the difficulties monitoring on the ground²³. Efforts to manage water levels at migration staging posts are underway in China². Key protected areas where it occurs include Kytalyk and Chaygurgino (Russia), Poyang Hu and Dong Dongting Hu (China), and Naurzum(Kazakhstan). The North East Asian Crane Site Network has been established. Captive-raised birds are being released in an effort to maintain the central² and western populations¹⁴. Russian scientists plan to replicate the methodologies that have successfully helped to boost Whooping Crane populations in North America². Small numbers of birds have been released at Fereydoon Kanar since 2002 - most recently a female released at Fereydoon Kanar in Iran in January 2007 did not return the following winter, and a male released in December 2007 migrated with the single wild male in February 2008¹⁴. One sighting in March 2008 in Western Siberia may be that of the released male, though it did not return to winter in 2008/2009^27,28. Another female was released at this site in 2009 and started migration with a wild individual^28,30. A set of four national stamps were published in Iran in 2008 to help raise public awareness of the Siberian Crane and the importance of wetland conservation within the country¹⁹.

Conservation measures proposed Identify breeding sites in the Kunovat basin and possibly other areas in north-west Russia. Enforce conservation measures to minimise threats from the Three Gorges Dam to wetlands in the lower Yangtze. Expand the Kytalyk and Chaygurgino Resources Reserves (Russia). Expand the area of Poyang Hu Nature Reserve or establish additional reserves to cover all important wintering areas and manage water-levels. Reduce hunting pressure on the central population.

References BirdLife International (2001). 1. Kanai et al. (2002). 2. G. Sundar in litt. (2004). 3. E. Sultanov in litt. (2004). 4. Bragin (2005). 5. Tseveenmyadag (2005). 6. Zhou Haixiang (2006). Li Fengshan (2003). 7. del Hoyo et al. (1996). 8. Cramp and Simmons (1980). 9. Johnsgard (1983). 10. Harris (2008). 11. Zou Chang-Lin et al. (2007). 12. Zou Chang-Lin et al. (2008). 13. Bai Qing-Quan (2008). 14. S. S. Zadegan in litt. (2008). 15. Hirschfeld (2008). 16. Belyalova and Fundukchiev (2007). 17. Shan Kai et al. (2007). 18. Ji Weitao and Wang Yunbao (2007). 19. Fazeli (2007). 20. Anon (2007). 21. Markin et al. (2007). 22. Prentice and Stishov (2007). 23. Stishov and Bysykatova (2008). 24. Pshennikov and Germogenov (2008). 25. Tseveenmyadag (2007). 26. Tseveenmyadag (2008). 27. Streinikova (2008). 28. Zadegan and Fazeli (2008). 29. Yu Changhao et al. (2008). 30. Zadegan et al. (2008).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Memorandum of Understanding and Conservation Plan

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

International Crane Foundation Species Field Guide

Status, Survey and Conservation Action Plan

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Rob Calvert (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Simba Chan (Wild Bird Society of Japan), Nic Peet (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Zuo Wei David Li (Wetlands International), Elchin Sultanov (Azerbaijan Ornithological Society), Gopi Sundar (International Crane Foundation), Sadegh S Zadegan

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Rob Calvert (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Grus leucogeranus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 30/7/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

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