Title
Nest surveys and conservation of the Sarus Crane Antigone antigone sharpii in the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar
Author(s)
Naing, Thet Zaw; Lin, Naing; Aung, Pyae Phyo; Kyaw, Htet Lin; Lin, Nyan; Win, Lay; Htut, Thaung
Published
2022
Publisher
Journal of Asian Ornithology
Abstract
Until recently, the status and breeding biology of the Sarus Crane Antigone antigone sharpii in Myanmar was poorly known. The objective of our survey was to determine the current breeding status of Sarus Cranes in the Ayeyarwady Delta to inform conservation management action. We found a total of 356 nests during the three-year study (33 in 2016, 138 in 2017 and 185 in 2018). Most nests were in rice-paddies (79.5%) and grassland (20.5%), and had a clutch size of two eggs. The incubation period was 29–32 days. Hatching success was generally high. The key threats to the survival of the Sarus Crane in our study area are habitat loss and degradation due to conversion of land for aquaculture. In our surveyed area, we conducted conservation awareness activities between 2017 and 2020, and we advised and encouraged the establishment of a civil society organisation to strengthen the conservation of the cranes in 2016. Our results demonstrate that the Ayeyarwady Delta is of high national and global significance for the conservation of the Sarus Crane.

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PUB35900