Migration and population characteristics of white-naped cranes wintering on the Korean Peninsula

The white-naped crane (Antigone vipio), distributed across East Asia, is classified into two distinct populations: eastern and western. The eastern population breeds in the Amur region of China and Russia and winters in Korea, whereas the western population breeds in northeastern Mongolia and winters at Poyang Lake in China. The aim of this study was to examine the population characteristics of white-naped cranes wintering in Korea and clarify the migratory behavior of the western population, which has been poorly understood. Population trends were assessed using data from the Winter Waterbird Census of Korea. In 2022 and 2023, the migratory routes were tracked using GPS transmitters attached to 12 cranes captured in eastern Mongolia. The analysis revealed a remarkable 2313.7% increase in the number of cranes wintering in Korea between 2000 and 2024 and demonstrated an expansion in their wintering range. The findings also confirmed that some individuals from the western population migrate to Poyang Lake and Korea. Systematic habitat management and improved wintering conditions on the Korean Peninsula could have been crucial factors in this increase. This study highlights the Korean Peninsula as a key wintering site for white-naped cranes in East Asia, providing valuable insights for future conservation strategies.