Northward Migration Route of one White-Eared Night Heron (Gorsachius magnificus) Revealed by GPS/GSM Tracking

Abstract

The White-eared Night Heron (Gorsachius magnificus) is a poorly known species. Little ecological research has been conducted on this species, and its migration route in particular is poorly understood. Clarification of the migratory routes of this species can enhance our understanding of its distribution and aid its conservation. Here, we identified the wintering and summering sites and characterized the migration route of one White-eared Night Heron by GPS/GSM tracking. Our results indicated that the Nanting River on the China–Myanmar border is the wintering site for this individual, and the Shizhuang River in Nanzhang, Hubei Province, China is the summering site. The heron migrated along the mountains and rested near rivers and reservoirs. This study is the first to reveal the migration route of the White-eared Night Heron. Our findings suggest that this species in Yunnan, Hubei, and Guizhou Provinces is not a resident bird. Generally, these data will aid the conservation of this species, including the development of action plans and the establishment of local nature reserves along its migration route and at wintering, summering, and stopover sites.