Research On Natural Breeding Behavior Of Red- Crowned Cranes Under Artificial Environment

2014 April-August in ShenYang forest zoo using scan sampling, focal sampling and behavior sampling methods utilized to determine the Red-crowned Crane natural breeding behavior mode, time budget and breeding behavior rhythm under artificial environment.The results show:The time budget of each behavior of Red-crowned Crane in entire reproductive season is:reproductive behavior 24%, walking 24%, preening 17%, feeding 15%, watching 14%, resting6%. Male time for watching significantly higher than females(P<0.01).The time budget of each behavior of Red-crowned Crane in mating season is:walking 28%, preening 27%, reproductive behavior 16%, watching 14%, feeding 10%, resting 5% Mating behavior always occurred at 4:00-5:00a.m. in daytime.The time budget of each behavior of Red-crowned Crane in incubation season is: incubation behavior36%, walking25%, preening 14%, feeding 11%, watching 10%, resting4%. The time budget for incubation behavior gradually increased in incubation season and the time budget for walking,preening, feeding, watching and resting all declined.The time budget of each behavior of Red-crowned Crane in brooding season:feeding25%, nestling21%, walking 19%, watching 18%, preening 10%, resting7%. With increasing age, the time budget for following and resting of nestling have a substantial increase, and the time budget for preening, walking and watching gradually declined. The time budget for brooding declined significantly, and the time budget for nursing, walking, watching and feeding all increased. Male time for watching significantly higher than females (P<0.05), females’ nursing and brooding time is higher than males.Generally, natural breeding behavior of Red-crowed Crane under artificial environment displayed a circadian rhythm in the time. We studied natural breeding behavior of captive Red-crowned Crane to provide material for the conservation and reintroduction of Red-crowned Crane.