Grus leucogeranus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	GRUIFORMES	GRUIDAE

Scientific Name:

Grus leucogeranus

Species Authority:

Pallas, 1773

Common Name/s:

English

–

Siberian Crane, Siberian White Crane, Snow Crane

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered A3bcd+4bcd ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Calvert, R., Symes, A., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Sultanov, E., Khalafbeigi, P., Sundar, G., Li, Z., Zadegan, S.

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.

History:

2009	–	Critically Endangered
2008	–	Critically Endangered
2007	–	Critically Endangered
2006	–	Critically Endangered
2004	–	Critically Endangered
2000	–	Critically Endangered
1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Grus leucogeranus breeds in arctic Russia in Yakutia and western Siberia. Three regional populations are recognised, one of which may be extinct. The eastern population breeds between the rivers Kolyma and Yana and south to the Morma mountains. Non-breeding birds summer in Dauria, on the border between Russia, Mongolia⁵ and China. Birds have also been recorded in summer in central Mongolia^25,26. The main wintering sites are in the middle to lower reaches of the Yangtze river, especially Poyang Hu lake, China. Surveys of the districts and counties around the lake recorded 2,700 individuals in 2006 and 3,750 in 2008^18,29. It requires a number of important wetlands during migration: in Liaoning province Huanzidong Reservoir in Shenyang region has had 900 Siberian Cranes recorded during autumn migration⁶, and 1,100 in spring¹³, and numbers at Wolong Lake peaked at 1,200 in March 2008¹³, while at Momoge Nature Reserve in Jilin province spring totals peaked at 1,156 in May 2007 and 2,183 in April 2008^11,12. The central population bred on the basin of the Kunovat river, Russia and wintered at Keoladeo National Park, India; however, none have been seen at Keoladeo since before 2002, and this population may now be extinct; unconfirmed reports of the species have continued from West Siberia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and India, however. Passage birds are recorded in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan^4,16. The western population breeds in the Tyumen District, Russia, in areas such as the Lower Ob River Basin²¹, and winters in Fereydoon Kenar (recently c.10 birds¹, but only one wild bird in 2006/2007 and 2007/2008¹⁴, and at least one in 2010³²) and Esbaran in Iran. Birds pass through Azerbaijan on passage³ and use the Volga river delta as a staging post¹. The global population is about 3,750, of which over 95% belongs to the eastern population and winters at Poyang Hu¹⁵.
Countries:	Native: Azerbaijan; China; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Kazakhstan; Korea, Republic of; Mongolia; Pakistan; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Turkmenistan Possibly extinct: Afghanistan; India Vagrant: Hong Kong; Japan; Jordan; Uzbekistan
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Four in western subpopulation (E. Ilyashenko 2002); 3,750 counted at Poyang Lake in 2008 (Yu Changhao et al. 2008).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and 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, although 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.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and 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, although 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.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	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 targeted at 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.

Major Threat(s):

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 targeted at 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 Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I and II. CMS Appendix I and II. It is legally protected in all range states. Range states signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help protect key wetland sites and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Crane Foundation launched the Siberian Crane GEF Project in 2003, after its original conception in 1998, to promote, develop and implement the conservation of key flyway wetlands across Asia for this species^2,7,31. Researchers monitoring breeding sites in the remote Yakutia region aimed to incorporate remote sensing given the difficulties monitoring on the ground²³. Efforts to manage water levels at migration staging posts were 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 have been released in an effort to maintain the central² and western populations¹⁴. Russian scientists were planning 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, although 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. The UNEP/GEF project was concluded in late 2009, and its achievements include improved protection for over 1.8 million hectares through designation of four new reserves, expansion of three others and upgraded legal protection status at another three, the designation of five new Ramsar sites, new management plans and improved capacity for many sites, and an extensive environmental education programme³¹. 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 Actions 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.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II. CMS Appendix I and II. It is legally protected in all range states. Range states signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help protect key wetland sites and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Crane Foundation launched the Siberian Crane GEF Project in 2003, after its original conception in 1998, to promote, develop and implement the conservation of key flyway wetlands across Asia for this species^2,7,31. Researchers monitoring breeding sites in the remote Yakutia region aimed to incorporate remote sensing given the difficulties monitoring on the ground²³. Efforts to manage water levels at migration staging posts were 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 have been released in an effort to maintain the central² and western populations¹⁴. Russian scientists were planning 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, although 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. The UNEP/GEF project was concluded in late 2009, and its achievements include improved protection for over 1.8 million hectares through designation of four new reserves, expansion of three others and upgraded legal protection status at another three, the designation of five new Ramsar sites, new management plans and improved capacity for many sites, and an extensive environmental education programme³¹. 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 Actions 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.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Grus leucogeranus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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