š¦1.12 CBWS: 2024 Sichuan Winter Waterbird Census Report (1/2 of the Data Analyzed & Whole Report Written by ME!)
To understand the species composition, population size, and distribution of wintering waterbirds in the Sichuan Basin, to protect migratory birds and their flyways, and to build and share a beautiful Sichuan together. On January 6, 2024, a synchronized survey of wintering waterbirds in the Sichuan Basin was conducted simultaneously in 13 cities: Chengdu, Deyang, Meishan, Mianyang, Zigong, Leshan, Ya'an, Luzhou, Yibin, Suining, Nanchong, Ziyang, and Neijiang. This survey originated in 2017 as the earliest synchronized survey of wintering waterbirds in the Chengdu Plain, jointly initiated and implemented by the Chengdu Bird Watching Society and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. As the number of participating organizations and personnel increased, the survey area expanded from the initial Chengdu Plain to most areas of the Sichuan Basin, covering the main streams of the Yangtze River and its tributaries, including the Min River, Tuo River, Fu River, Jialing River, Qingyi River, and Dadu River. Therefore, the survey's name was adjusted from the previous "Chengdu Plain Wintering Waterbird Synchronized Survey" used in the first seven rounds to the "Sichuan Basin Wintering Waterbird Synchronized Survey."
Figure 1: Survey areas and preliminary results of the 2024 Sichuan Basin Wintering Waterbird Synchronized Survey
On January 6, from 08:00 to 19:00, 337 volunteers from various bird-watching organizations, natural education institutions, research institutes, universities, and forestry departments across the province coordinated to conduct survey work in 81 survey areas across 47 districts and counties in 13 cities. On January 7ā8, necessary supplementary surveys were conducted in some areas. After summarizing, cleaning, and analyzing the survey data, the following preliminary results were obtained:
A total of 78,593 waterbirds were recorded in this survey. Specific data for each city can be found in Figure 1. Compared with the 2023 survey results, the population of waterbirds in different areas showed both increases and decreases, with an overall decrease of about 10,000 birds. It is speculated that this year's significant warm winter climate may have caused some waterbirds to winter in more northern areas. The specific reasons need to be comprehensively analyzed with survey results from other regions in the country. The five most abundant species of waterbirds were the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) with 9,960 individuals, the Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) with 9,472 individuals, the Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha) with 6,591 individuals, the Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) with 5,121 individuals, and the Gadwall (Anas strepera) with 4,855 individuals.
Figure 2: Black stork and white spoonbill
In terms of species diversity, this survey recorded 74 species of waterbirds belonging to 15 families in 7 orders, which is basically consistent with the 75 species recorded in 2023. Five species of birds, including the Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis), Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana), Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), and Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus), were newly recorded in this synchronized survey of wintering waterbirds. Among them, the Black-necked Crane, Dalmatian Pelican, Oriental Stork, and Glossy Ibis are all classified as national first-class key protected wild animals. To date, a total of 94 species of waterbirds have been recorded in the synchronized surveys of wintering waterbirds in the Chengdu Plain and Sichuan Basin, accounting for 55.62% of the waterbird species in Sichuan.
Figure 3: Oriental stork
Figure 4: Chinese merganser
In terms of rare and endangered species, there are seven species of national first-class key protected wild animals, namely the Baer's Pochard (Aythya baeri), the Chinese Merganser (Mergus squamatus), the Black-necked Crane, the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), the Oriental Stork, the Glossy Ibis, and the Dalmatian Pelican, and ten species of national second-class key protected wild animals, including the Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus), the Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), the Smew (Mergellus albellus), the Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), the Baikal Teal (Anas formosa), the Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), the Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), the Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii), the Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), and the Little Gull (Larus minutus). The Chinese Merganser, in particular, is listed as a critically endangered wild animal that requires urgent protection, with 43 individuals recorded in this survey, the highest number ever.
According to the survey results, the species composition and population size of waterbirds show certain degrees of change and fluctuation, while the overall situation remains basically stable. In addition to the impacts of climate change and hydrological environments of rivers and lakes, some river sections and lakes are experiencing short-term disturbances due to construction activities. In some areas, there are a large number of anglers with extensive fishing areas, posing the most direct and significant threat to the safe wintering of waterbirds.
