Biodiv Sci ›› 2008, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (3): 279-287.  DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2008.07225

Special Issue: 青藏高原生物多样性与生态安全

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Movement of four breeding waterbirds at Qinghai Lake, China

Guogang Zhang1, Dongping Liu1, Hongxing Jiang1, Yunqiu Hou1, Ming Dai1, Guozhong Chu1,*(), Zhi Xing2   

  1. 1 Research Institute of Forest Ecology and Environment Protection, Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of State Forestry Administration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091
    2 Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve, Xining 810000
  • Received:2007-08-22 Accepted:2008-02-19 Online:2008-05-20 Published:2008-05-20
  • Contact: Guozhong Chu

Abstract:

The movements of four species of breeding waterbirds were studied using color marking, radio-tracking, and satellite-tracking at Qinghai Lake between April and September, 2006. Forty five bar-headed geese (Anser indicus) were captured with foot traps, including six individuals tagged with radio transmitters in April and another six birds with satellite transmitters in July. A total of 104 brown-headed gulls (Larus brunnicephalus) were captured with hand nets, and six of these were radio-tagged in April. Fifty one great black-headed gulls (L. ichthyaetus) were captured with foot traps, including two birds that were radio-tagged in April. Seventy five great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) were captured using the spotlight method, including six birds radio-tagged in May and June, and four individuals tagged with satellite transmitters in August. Data showed three distinct movement routes for the bar-headed goose, one for the brown-headed gull, four for the great black-headed gull, and two for the great cormorant. Furthermore, one of these routes was shared by all four waterbird species—from Luci Island and Egg Island to Quanwan along the shore near the Buhahekou and Tiebuqiahekou. These areas are also important as foraging and resting sites for many other waterbird species during migration periods.

Key words: waterbirds, color marking, radio-tracking, satellite-tracking, movement, Qinghai Lake