Baikal Teal Sibirionetta formosa wintering in South Korea use three distinct spring migration routes

Abstract

Transmitter-based bird tracking is crucial in modern ecology and conservation biology. This type of research provides fundamental insights into avian movement patterns, habitat utilization, areas of intense activity, and migration routes. In this study, we tracked the spring migration routes of nine Baikal Teal Sibirionetta formosa equipped with platform transmitter terminals (PTTs) and revealed three main migration routes (MR1, MR2 and MR3) from South Korea to their breeding grounds in Russia. Although most birds bred in the Kolyma Lowland, some bred along the lower reaches of the Lena River. Furthermore, it was confirmed that migratory birds used 25 stopovers. Notably, a route (MR1) passing through northeastern China, eastern Russia, and the Sea of Okhotsk was utilized by most Baikal Teal and corresponded with the well-known route identified in Japan. Two other migration routes (MR2 and MR3) shared a common path from western regions of South Korea to wetlands located west of Heilongjiang Province, China. From the Recka Gonam River basin in Russia, one migration route turned northeastward towards the Kolyma Lowland, whereas the other continued northward to the lower reaches of the Lena River. These routes were supplementary migration routes that extend beyond the previously known migration routes of Baikal Teal. This study contributes to the current understanding of Baikal Teal migration patterns and identifies areas that should be prioritized for conservation efforts.