[Science new: Migration and wintering of vulnerable adult Chinese Egrets (Egretta eulophotes) revealed by GPS tracking public on sciencedirect.com]
Abstract
Knowledge of migratory bird requirements is critical to developing conservation plans for vulnerable migratory species. This study aimed to determine the migration routes, wintering areas, habitat uses, and mortalities of adult Chinese Egrets (Egretta eulophotata).
Sixty adult Chinese Egrets (31 females and 29 males) on an uninhabited offshore breeding island in Dalian, China were tracked using GPS satellite transmitters. GPS locations recorded at 2 h intervals from June 2019 to August 2020 were used for analysis.

A total of 44 and 17 tracked adults completed their autumn and spring migrations, respectively. Compared with autumn migration, tracked adults displayed more diverse routes, higher number of stopover sites, slower migration speed, and longer migration duration in the spring. Results indicated that migrant birds had different behavioral strategies during the two migratory seasons. The spring migration duration and stopover duration for females were significantly longer than those for males.
A positive correlation existed between the spring arrival and spring departure dates, as well as between the spring arrival date and stopover duration. This finding indicated that the egrets that arrived early at the breeding grounds left the wintering areas early and had a shorter stopover duration. Adult birds preferred intertidal wetlands, woodlands, and aquaculture ponds during migration.
During the wintering period, adults preferred offshore islands, intertidal wetlands, and aquaculture ponds. Adult Chinese Egrets showed a relatively low survival rate compared with most other common ardeid species.
Dead specimens were found in aquaculture ponds, indicating human disturbance as the main cause of death of this vulnerable species. These results highlighted the importance of resolving conflicts between egrets and human-made aquaculture wetlands and protecting intertidal flats and offshore islands in natural wetlands through international cooperation.
Our results contributed to the hitherto unknown annual spatiotemporal migration patterns of adult Chinese Egrets, thereby providing an important basis for the conservation of this vulnerable species.

Source: Avian Research Volume 13, 2022, 100055
READ FULL this paper HERE
WANEE Stories
Every footstep you take with WANEE is a pledge to protect Vietnam’s diverse wildlife. Our [...]
Sep
10 Critically Endangered Primate species of Vietnam
Critically Endangered Species (CR) Critically endangered species are species that are facing an extremely high risk [...]
Sep
10 Endangered species of Primate in Vietnam
Endangered Species (EN) Endangered species, or species at risk of extinction, are facing a high risk [...]
Sep
Overview of Vietnam’s Red Data Book and the IUCN World Red List
ContentsAbstractVietnam’s Red Data Book Vietnam’s Red Data Book is a document of national and international [...]
Aug
8 Best Birding Places Near Ho Chi Minh City: Explore the Avian Wonders!
Picture yourself surrounded by the vibrant colors and melodious songs of exotic birds, all within [...]
Aug
Birding Guide: Birding in Ma Da Exploring the Biggest Nature Reserve in Vietnam
Welcome to the enchanting realm of birding in Ma Da Forest, where nature unveils its [...]
Jul