Geographical Connectivity, Migration Routes, and Wintering Grounds of the Common Crane in the Northern Moscow Region

Abstract—The results of a 3-year tracking of a common crane equipped with a GPS-GSM transmitter have made it possible to better understand the geographical connectivity, migration routes, and key sites of summer stays and migration stopovers of individuals of this species that nest in the center of the European part of Russia. Flyways and wintering sites have been traced and key and short-term migration stopovers have been identified in the arid areas of Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, and Ethiopia. It has been established that the crane used different wintering grounds in different years. It has been revealed that immature cranes of the Dubna premigratory gathering (Moscow Region) can use areas where other premigratory gatherings are formed, in particular, in Smolensk Region. Successful nesting of a common crane at the age of 3 years noticed.