Bird Diversity of Baigui Lake Natural Reserve in Winter

Bird is an important component of wetland ecosystem and typically considered as an excellent biological and environmental indicator. From December 2019 to December 2021, the diversity of birds in Baigui Lake Natural Reserve was investigated by using line transects and point sample methods. In total, 94 birds of 34 families in 13 orders were recorded, including 2 species listed as Class Ⅰ and 11 species listed as Class Ⅱ in Chinese National Protected Wildlife List, and 4 species of key protected birds in Henan Province. The Shannon-Wiener index (H), evenness index (J), Simpson index (D) and Margalef index (M) of birds in the nature reserve are 3.71, 0.57, 0.84, and 9.73, respectively. Fulica atra was the most dominant species. According to the IUCN red list, one species is classified as critically endangered, two species were classified as endangered, two species were classified as near threatened, and one species was classified as vulnerable. For the bird fauna, there are 9 Oriental species, 34 Palaearctic species and 51 widespread species. Regarding the migration status, 30 species are winter visitors, 9 are summer visitors, 26 are residents, and 29 are pass migrants. Diversity index varied in different habitats. The H, J, and D index were higher in rural farmland, artificial bushes and parks, but lower in the lakes, river branches and rocky beach habitats. In contrast, M index was higher in lakes, rural farmlands, river branches, but lower in parks, artificial bushes and rocky beach habitats. This investigation enriched the bird list of Baigui Lake Natural Reserve, and would further benefit waterbirds protection in the area.