Fang, Y. & Sun, Y.-H. 1997: Brood movement and natal dispersal of hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia at Changbai Mountain, Jilin Province, China. - Wildl. Biol. 3: 261-264.
Brood movement and natal dispersal of hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia at Changbai Mountain were studied using radio telemetry in 1993-94. Most chicks hatched during late May to early June. Only hens accompanied three radio-tracked broods. After wandering for 30-35 days, broods 1 and 3 became relatively sedentary in second-growth forest, 1.6-1.7 km from their nests. Broods 1 and 3 disintegrated when chicks were 80 and 69 days old. Based on radio-tracking, it is suggested that the impetus for one brood's disintegration was that the hen left its brood. Female 2 lost her chicks about 20 days after hatching. The hens returned to their spring home ranges after brood dissolution. Three radio-marked chicks dispersed 4.8-5.7 km in mid-September. It is concluded that, in general, the hazel grouse is an active disperser in natural habitats.
Key words: Bonasa bonasia, brood movement, Changbai Mountain, hazel grouse, natal dispersal, People's Republic of China
Yun Fang & Yue-Hua Sun, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, People's Republic of China