Reintroduction
Reintroduction>Hang-glider Migration>Flight of Hope
2002
“Flight of hope” Project
By Alexander Sorokin, Anastassia Shilina, Alexander Ermakov, and Yuri Markin
The western and central populations of Siberian Cranes are disappearing. During the second part of 20th century the number of birds in these two geographically overlapping populations decreased very sharply, and now there are perhaps only 10 to 20 birds left. Consequently, the Russian Federation has worked closely with colleagues in Central Asia to promote the preservation of these populations of Siberian Crane.
As a result of research and conservation efforts a program for Siberian Crane population recovering was developed by All Russian Research Institute for Nature Protection (ARRINP) of Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) of the Russian Federation under the framework of international cooperation. One of the main tasks under this program is the introduction of captive-bred Siberian Cranes to the wild. The major challenge for released cranes is the lack of the flight and migration route experience, which parents teach their young in the wild.
The “Flight of Hope” Project applies innovate techniques to teach young cranes to fly along their migration route to wintering grounds in Iran. The theory is that the isolation-reared Siberian Cranes will be imprinted on hang glider and the pilot can act as a leader and train the young birds to follow the hang glider. Stopovers along the flyway should be defined before migration. This method is expected to increase chick survival rates and increase the effectiveness of Siberian Crane migration efforts.
American specialists, developed techniques to reintroduce Whooping Cranes to the wild by leading young captive-reared birds along their migration route behind an ultralight aircraft. Results show that 100% of cranes that successfully followed the ultralight the entire route from the release site to their wintering grounds then safely returned on their own from the wintering sites back to their release site the following spring.
Projects participants
Russian Federation:
- All Russian Research Institute for Nature Protection of Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation;
- Crane Breeding Center of Oka Biosphere State Nature Reserve (the OCBC)
- “Sterkh” Foundation, Yamalo-Nenentsky Autonomous Region.
USA:
- International Crane Foundation (http://www.savingcranes.org)
Italy:
- Angelo d’Arrigo – hang-glider pilot, repeated champion and world record holder, has extensive experience in flying with raptors (www.angelo-darrigo.com)
Project stages in 200
1. Producing Siberian Crane eggs with early hatch dates (in early May) at the OCBC so that birds will mature early enough to have good flight strength by migration time.
2. Rearing of Siberian Crane chicks in isolation from humans and in combination with hang-glider imprinting at the OCBC.
3. Shipping the young cranes to the Siberian Crane breeding sites, their adaptation to local conditions, and advanced training to fly behind the hang glider.
4. Local flights of cranes behind hang glider on the key stopovers during migration from the Lower Ob River to the southern part of West Siberia.
5. Introduction of three Siberian Cranes taught to fly behind hang-glider with wild Eurasian Cranes at their autumn stage area in West Siberia at the Belozersky Game Refuge (Zakaznik).
6. Introduction of Siberian Cranes taught to fly behind hang glider in Iran.
1. Producing Siberian Crane eggs with early hatch dates at OCBC
At OCBC, 10 eggs were produced which hatch dates before 15 May, four of these were infertile. Because three of the six hatched chicks died at an early age, the project team had to use seven younger chicks that hatched after 15 May to have the desired total of 10 chicks for the experiment.
2. Rearing of Siberian Crane chicks in isolation from human and in combination with hang-glider imprinting at OCBC
Special pens for rearing the cranes in isolation were built at one of Oka Biosphere Nature Reserve (“Lipo-vaya Gora” sites), 20 km from the village Brykin Bor, where OCBC is located.
Twice a day OCBC staff dressed in special crane costumes and Angelo d’Arrigo walked with the ten chicks and taught them to follow the hang-glider. In the beginning of August, the two oldest chicks began taking short flights behind the hang-glider, the others run after them.
The six strongest chicks were chosen for the hang glider experiment in West Siberia. A decision was made to release the other four Siberian Cranes in the south of Tyumen Region at the Beloozersky Zakaznik.
3. Shipping young cranes to the Siberian Crane breeding grounds, their adaptation to local conditions, and advanced training to fly behind hang glider
On 14 August 2002, six young cranes were shipped by commercial plane to Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous Region, then by helicopter to the Siberian Crane breeding sites (near Kushevat Village, 200 km south of Salekhard). The shipment occurred two weeks later than originally planned, to allow the youngest chicks time to mature at Oka Reserve. Special portable temporary pens were built for cranes in Kushevat. Over the next two weeks the cranes adapted to the new conditions and new food, and followed the hang glider on the ground twice each day. Unfortunately the weather (strong wind and rain) impeded daily flights with hang-glider.
4. Local flights of cranes behind hang-glider to the key stopovers during migration from the Lower Ob River to the southern part of West Siberia
It was originally planned that cranes would fly behind the hang-glider from one stopover to the next along the migratory route. These stopovers, mainly hayfields in the flood-lands, were identified in 2001. In 2002, however, the weather was extremely rainy, water levels in Ob River Basin were at a record high, and all designated take-off and landing sites were flooded. Numerous helicopter, boat and ground surveys were conducted to find suitable stopovers. Therefore cranes could take only local flights behind the hang-glider during stops at the suitable places. Along migratory rout from Kushevat (Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous Region) to Uvat (Tyumen Region) from August 27 to 8September, the cranes and the project team traveled by barge or motor-launch. From Uvat to Beloozersly Zakaznik (Armizon, Tyumen Region) the cranes were shipped non-stop. On 10 September 2002, after two weeks in trainsit, the cranes and team completed their migration route.
6. Introduction of Siberian Cranes taught to fly behind hang-glider in Iran
On 22 September, three of the six cranes that had traveled south from Kushevat were returned to the OCBC were they kept in isolation. The plan was to transport them to Iran in January and released then at the Bujagh National Park on the Caspian Sea coast.
Conclusions
- For the first time the method of teaching cranes to fly behind a hang glider was tested.
- A series of local flights were conducted.
- Suitable stopovers along the Siberian Crane Flyway in West Siberia were identified.
- Siberian Cranes chicks get good flight training and adapted to different weather conditions along the more complicated part of migratory rout.
Seven Siberian Cranes were released to the wild along the Siberian Crane Flyway and tree others were prepared for release in Iran.
For more information:
Alexander Sorokin, Anastassia Shilina
All Russian Research Institute for Nature Protection of the MNR
Alexander Ermakov
“Sterkh” Foundation
Yuri Markin
Oka Bioshere State Nature Reserve
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