Eastern Flyway
Eastern Flyway>Sightings>Russia, Mongolia, Japan, Hong Kong
Non-breeding individuals range widely, and have occasionally been observed during the breeding season in the Russia-Mongolia-China border region, along the Onon, Uldza, and Khalkhin Gol Rivers, and in upper reaches of the Tuul River. Vagrant individuals are occasionally reported in Japan, usually in the autumn.
Amur Region. On 17-19 October near Lebedinskoe and Novoselskoe villages, Primorsky Krai, Russian Far East, we observed an adult Siberian Crane more than once. It was in the flock of White-naped Cranes, and it was not banded. Cameramen of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), South Korea made a video film about this Siberian Crane.
By Mikhail Parilov
Khingansky State Nature Reserve
Amur Region. On 27 May in Muraviovka Park for Sustainable Land Use, Amur Region, A. Konyushok (one of the Park’s friends and frequent visitors) reported a sighting of several “white geese.” During a ground survey conducted on May 28, we found six Siberian Cranes with reddish-brown neck coloration. Spring of 2001 was very dry in the Amur Basin; there was no standing water in the most part of the Muraviovka wetland. Only one small pond (~200m in diameter and ~1 m deep) remained, filled with rainwater. This spot was picked by six young Siberian Cranes for a stopover. Most of the time they stayed in a tight group, sometimes splitting into pairs, sometimes roaming around as single birds, but always trying to stay within a 10-m radius from each other. The birds preferred places with water nearly half-way up their legs. In mid-May, this temporary wetland was used as a stopover by a large flock (up to 1000 birds) of White-fronted Geese. During our observations (9:00-11:20 a.m.), six Siberian Cranes spent most of the time feeding (standing or slowly wading in the water) or resting. They performed all their activities (feeding, wading, resting, cleaning, watching) together, as a group. At 11:20 a.m. on 28 May all six cranes took off in south-west direction.
For more information:
Sergei Smirenski, Maria Monakhova
Muraviovka Park For Sustainable Land Use, Moscow State University
Amur Region. On 20 June in Obluchensk Region, Jujin Autonomous Region, one adult Siberian Crane was recorded according to information from Natalia Nikolaeva, staff of Khingansky Nature Reserve.
For more information:
Vladimir Andronov
The Department of the Nature Resources of the Far East Federal Region
Dauria. During August-September two adult Siberian Cranes were observed on Torey Lakes, in the buffer zone of the Daursky Nature Reserve. They stayed apart from each other; one was in a cornfield with Eurasian Cranes, another alone - in the wetlands.
For more information:
Oleg Goroshko
Dauriski State Nature Reserve
Three
sightings of the Siberian Crane have been registered in Mongolia in 2004.
The first sighting occurred 120 km east of Ulaanbaatar City, near Baga-Nur
mine. At this part of the Kerulen River Basin several small lakes are
located: Guun-Galuut, Ayagyn-Nur and Vaga-Nur Lakes. According to the
information provided by biologists J. Batbold and Davaakhuu, four Siberian
Cranes arrived at the Ayagyn Lake in May, and had been staying there for
the whole summer, leaving it only in the middle of September. Four Siberian
Cranes had also been observed at the Guun-Galut Lake in 2002.
The lakes provide a habitat to other rare and endangered species: White-naped Crane (1-2 pairs), Swan Goose (2-3 pairs) and Bar-headed Goose (1-2 pairs). Black Stork, and White-tailed Sea Eagle are quite common there. In September 2003, a Hooded Crane was seen in a flock of Demoiselle Cranes. These lakes are protected at the regional level. Several small tourist centers are operating on the lakes. In summer 2004 a movie about the natural beauty and richness of these lakes was produced and broadcasted on national TV.
The second sighting was registered on the 21 August 2004. Two Siberian
Cranes were staying on the small lakes 50 km north-east of Undurkhan
City, Kenteisky Aimak (reported by ecologist O. Bumyalakh).
The third sighting was reported in September 2004. According to observations
conducted by ornithologists S. Gombobaatar, Adam Rowlands, and Steve
Rowlands, two Siberian Cranes were staying at the Duru-Nur Lake (49°40’30’’N,
113°20’230’’E) in Mongol-Daguur Reserve. Prior
to that I had observed one Siberian Crane between 19-29 June 1994 and
another – on 2 June 1996.
For more information:
N. Tseveenmyadag
Institute of Biology, Mongolian Academy of Science
On 25 May one Siberian Crane was observed in Khalkhiin Gol River Basin near Buir Nuur Lake, (47056'984 "N, 11805'561" E).
On 22 June Drs. Namhaidorj and Dolgorsuren report seeing have Siberian Cranes in the morning on 22 June 2002 in Khurkha-Gol River Basin near Bayan Burd Lake (48022'87 "N, 110032'669" E). At first they noticed four Siberian Cranes, which stayed near a road (within 40-50 m). Four hundred meters from that group, the observers saw seven Siberian Cranes, approximately 300 ì away. The same time other cranes flew up in the distance, but it was impossible to determine their species against the sun. In this area, sightings of breeding Eurasian and White-naped Cranes are reported regularly, therefore there is a little likelihood that Siberian Cranes were in the large flock. Ornithologists reported 63 cranes, of which only 11 were definitely Siberian Cranes.
On 13 July in Eastern Mongolia, near Tyra Lake (the territory of the International Reserve “Dauria”) a single adult Siberian Crane was registered.
For more information:
N.
Tseveenmyadag
Institute of Biology, Mongolian Academy of Science
On 9 December according to the information from Chihiro Kobayashi, Crane Park Izumi, Kyushu, one Siberian Crane was observed at the Arasaki protection area for cranes, Izumi wintering site, Japan.
For more information:
Simba Chan
Birdlife-Asia
On 11 and 12 December 2002, one juvenile Siberian Crane was seen at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve. This is the first record of this species in Hong Kong. In fact, the first record of any real wild cranes in Hong Kong for more than 35 years ago. The only other substantial record was Eurasian Cranes seen in 1966. This is also the only record of Siberian Crane found south of the Yangtze Valley.
(Updated from Hong Kong Bird Report)
Simba Chan, Wild Bird Society of Japan
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© 2004 by SCFC