Updates from the Field

Join our researchers as they study Siberian Cranes along the east Asia flyway. Our weekly field updates follow the yearly cycle of the Siberian Crane, beginning on the population's breeding grounds in northeastern Russia and following their migration route south through eastern China. Attention Teachers: Click here for suggested activities relating to this field update Week 1 Yakutian Birds Masha Vladimirtseva, Junior Scientist Institute for Biological Problems of the Permafrost Zone, Yakutsk We recently received some news about Siberian Cranes and other migratory birds at the Chabda Resource Reserve in southern Yakutia. ...our scientists did not see any Siberian Cranes in Chabda this year during the spring migration. They looked for migratory Siberian Cranes from May 11-28 (the traditional time that the cranes would migrate through this area), but none were sighted. Last year researchers saw two large flocks of Siberian Cranes at Chabda - totaling 25 and 45 birds each. One flock rested on an island in the river overnight. Local people did not see Siberian Cranes in Chabda this year either. In the other reserves in southern Yakutia, people saw just nine Siberian Cranes this year. My colleagues think that this is because of high water levels during the spring floods. The Siberian Cranes did not use their traditional stops and rested in other places, so their local flyway changed this year. Other birds, such as geese and ducks, also were not as numerous this year as normal. But those of us who stayed in Yakutsk during the spring migration saw many geese and ducks close to town during peak migration. The Lena River valley is close to the eastern part of Yakutsk. In the spring, the "river comes to Yakutsk" (during annual spring floods) and at this time, if you are bird watcher, you do not need to go very far from Yakutsk to see many birds. We could stand with our binoculars on the sidewalk, just several hundred meters from the Russian Orthodox Church. In this flooded valley with small islands, we saw resting and feeding Eurasian wigeons, northern pintail, garganey teal, northern shovelers, and ruffs. And we could see flocks of greater white-fronted geese fly over this wonderful valley. Flocks of up to ten Eurasian cranes also were sighted close to Yakutsk this spring. Now we are going to the tundra to the Siberian Crane breeding ground. So, please, wait for news from us!

Field Updates Student Activities Yakutian Birds Geography: Taiga and Tundra Ecoregions Field Work in the Tundra Science: Studying Animal Behavior Environmental Camps Team Building: Crane Egg Game Fall Migration Geography: Tracking Cranes Waterbird Lead Poisoning in Yakutia Social Studies: Raising Awareness Northeast China Discussion: Changing Landscapes Songnen Plain Science: Wetlands as Filters Student Exchanges Writing: School News Birding in China Science: Classroom Bird Feeders Bohai Bay Math: Waterbird Populations Poyang Lake Basin

		This spring researchers did not observe Siberian Cranes at the Chabda Resource Reserve, but they did discover a Hooded Crane nest (upper left). The adults flew from the nest (above) while the researchers recorded information on the number of eggs and condition of the nest (how many eggs do you see in the photo?). Each spring in Yakutsk, Masha and her colleagues view migrating birds from the city (right), which is located along the Lena River. The river rises in the spring and the plentiful water in the river valley attracts migratory birds.