A Preliminary Study on Foraging Habitat of White-napped Crane on Spring in Qixinghe,Heilongjiang Province

White-napped Crane(Grus vipio)is a large wader.Because of habitat loss,its global population is declining and is now endangered.White-napped Crane is listed in CITES Appendix I(which bans all international trade in the species) is categorized as Endangered in the IUCN Red list,and is also listed in the First Category of Protected Birds in China.During April to May 2011,the foraging habitat of White-napped Crane was investigated using GPS and direct observation at Qixinghe National Nature Reserve,Helongjiang Province.70 plots(1m×1m) were established for sampling vegetation.Factors of its foraging habitat including vegetation species,height,coverage,density,water depth and human disturbance were measured and analyzed by quadrate sampling and factor analysis methods.Results indicated that Grus vipio mainly foraging in the wetlands which have Carex spp.,Calamagrostis angustifolia.The height of these plants was between 40cm to 80cm,the density was higher than 600 plants per square meter,vegetation cover was mainly between 0 and 25%,and the depth of the foraging place water was 5～15cm,the distance of human disturbance was greater than 1500m.Human activity greatly affects Grus vipio foraging.In spring,Grus vipio sometimes foraging in the burns down.