Number and distribution of cranes wintering at Poyang Lake, China during 2011-2012

Poyang Lake is a very important wintering place for cranes in China and East Asia. Two crane surveys were conducted at Poyang Lake during the 2011/2012 winter, the first on 18-19 December 2011 and the second on 18-19 February 2012. The survey covered the entire Poyang Lake basin, as well as two main lakes in Jiujiang (Saicheng Hu and Chi Hu), i.e., a total of 85 sub-lakes were surveyed. Both surveys recorded four species of cranes. The first survey on 18-19 December 2011 recorded 4577 Siberian Cranes (Grus leucogeranus), mostly in Bang Hu, Sha Hu and Dahu Chi, 302 Hooded Cranes (G. monacha), 885 White-naped Cranes (G. vipio) and 8408 Eurasian Cranes (G. grus), for the most part in the center of the lake basin. The second survey on 18-19 February 2012 recorded 3335 Siberian Cranes (mostly in Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve (PLNR) and its surrounding areas), 110 Hooded Cranes (largely in PLNR and its surrounding areas), 283 White-naped Cranes (86% in Bang Hu) and 2205 Eurasian Cranes (particularly in Duchang and Nanjishan NNR). The number of Siberian Cranes enumerated in December was 1000 more than the second count in February 2012. It is not possible to rule out double counting due to the close proximity of the main sites of the Siberian Cranes. During winters from 1998 to 2009, the average of the highest counts each winter was 3091, ranging from 2345 in 1996 to 4004 in 2002. By comparison with counts taken at other times, we therefore estimate a wintering population of Siberian Cranes of~3800-4000 at Poyang Lake. Additional evidence will be needed to raise the world population estimate. Our more recent surveys indicate a continuing decline in the number of White-naped Cranes and an increase in Eurasian Cranes.