capture and tagging of black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) and Bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) in Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh

Abstract

Modern satellite tracking techniques aid to study precise migration paths, stop over sites and habitat utilization. There is no information is available on migration patterns of water birds in Ladakh. Therefore we conducted a satellite based telemetry study on Black-necked crane (BNC) and Bar-headed goose (BHG) in Changthang Cold Desert Sanctuary. We initially did a reconnaissance survey, we counted 57 cranes and 182 geese in sanctuary, based on which; we shortlisted Chushul, Hanle and Rhongo mashes for capture and tagging of birds. We captured four BHG at Chushul using noose traps, two of them fitted with Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTT) and with conventional neck bands and rings. Whereas two other BHG were collared with only conventional neck bands and tagged with tarsus rings. We also fitted two BNC with PTT and tarsus bands, first at Chusul and second at Rhongo. Till date we received 810 locations with different location classes through ARGOS out of which 558 locations from class 3, 2, 1 & 0 were used for analysis. Preliminary findings revealed that maximum distance travelled by PTT fitted cranes from date of tagging till December 2013 ranged between 279 and 329 km and geese between 361 and 945 km. One of the PTTs of BHG stopped functioning from 30/10/2013 and another BHG fitted with PTT travelled to near Himachal Pradesh Border. Whereas two BHG fitted with only neckband and rings were reported from Gharana Wetland, Jammu. This study was able to track migration of BHG from Ladakh to Jammu via Himachal Pradesh (probably Pong Dam). The movement pattern of the PTT fitted birds are being tracked and may yield further information on their movement pattern and habitat utilization