The Black-Necked Crane Winter Count 1991-1992

Abstract

The Black-Necked Crane Winter Count 1991-1992

Introduction A growing concern for the Black-necked Crane (Crus vigricollis) has underscored the need for more complete information on its population status. Historic descriptions of the Blacknecked Crane's wintering range included Bhutan, India, China, Vietnam and Burma. Beginning in November 1988, researchers and government agencies were contacted to census known wintering areas between 1 January and 15 February 1989. The first, 1989 winter count yielded 705 cranes in China and Bhutan (Bishop 1989a, b) but none in Vietnam. The discovery of new wintering areas in Yunnan (Huang 1990, Wang et al. 1990) and Tibet (Bishop 1991b) have increased the world's known population to 4,024 during the third, 1991 winter count (Bishop 1991a). This past 1991-92 winter, the Fourth Annual Black-necked Crane Winter Count was again organized by Dr. Mary Anne Bishop of the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin U.s.A. Participating countries included the People's Republic of China, the Kingdom of Bhutan and India. Compared to the previous years, additional areas in Tibet, Arunachal Pradesh and central Bhutan were surveyed. No surveys were conducted in Vietnam for the 1991-92 winter count.