Movement and habitat utilization of breeding Bar-headed Goose and the relationship with humans in Qinghai Lake

A HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Influenza) outbreak in 2005 resulted in several thousands Bar-headed Geese dying at Qinghai Lake,China,which draws attention to the need for a better understanding of the species. In this paper,the movements and habitat utilization of breeding Bar-headed Geese and their relationship with human beings in Qinghai Lake were documented through radio tracking and color marking. Bar-headed Geese breed at Dandao and feed at Quanwan,Garila,Heimahe Estuary and Tiebujia Estuary between March and September. Their home range and core area cover (309.63±172.72)km2 and (49.30±19.6)1km2,respectively. There is no significant difference of home range size between different periods. Bar-headed goose shows strong site fidelity between different periods,with an average 56.6%±24.9% tracking points falling within the home range of earlier periods. However,the home range shows major differences between the mid-breeding period and late breeding period,because the parents leave the breeding ground with their offspring in latter. As the breeding season progresses,the geese use the estuary less and the marsh more. The Bar-headed Goose has a higher contact intensity with human-beings and livestock in Dandao,Heimahe and Quanwan and in the month of May,which indicates that enhancing tourism management and public awareness of local people is important.