Number and distribution of wintering cranes and waterbirds at the Luguhu Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China in 2013

We surveyed cranes and other waterbirds at the Luguhu Nature Reserve, Ninglang County, Yunnan Province on 18-19 January 2013, and recorded 32 Eurasian Cranes (Grus grus), 1542 Ruddy Shelducks (Todorna ferruginea), and two Bar-headed Geese (Anser indicus), while no Black-necked Cranes (Grus nigricollis) were sighted. The Eurasian Cranes were seen in Shankua Village in the southeastern Luguhu. The Ruddy Shelducks were mainly in two lakes (1,420 ducks) near Zhudi Village and a marsh area (122 ducks) near Zhebo Village. Comparing to ten years ago, numbers of Ruddy Shelducks and Eurasian Cranes have increased, while Bar-headed Geese and Black-necked Cranes have either declined or disappeared.