The influence of age, flock size, habitat, and weather on the time budget and the daily rhythm of wintering Siberian Cranes in Poyang Lake

Siberian Cranes are the most highly specialized members of the crane family in terms of habitat requirements, morphology, vocalizations, and behavior. This critically endangered species is now found in only two populations: eastern and western. It has been estimated that about 4000 Siberian Cranes have over wintered in Poyang Lake in recent years. This lake has been an important wintering site for the cranes. From January to March, 2012, and from December 2012 to March 2013, we used instantaneous scanning sampling method to observe the wintering behavior of Siberian Cranes wintering in the Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve, and we analyzed the effects of age, flock size, habitat, and weather on their wintering behavior. The results of a general linear model analysis revealed that, in terms of time spent engaged in different behaviors, there was a significant relationship between age and flock size, age and habitat, flock size and weather, flock size and habitat, and weather and habitat in Siberian Cranes.