Number and Distribution of Over-wintering Waterbirds in the Poyang Lake by Aerial Survey

The Poyang Lake is not only the largest freshwater lake in China,also a very important over-wintering ground for migratory birds,each winter to the following spring,there were a large number of over-wintering waterfbirds habitat in the Poyang Lake.Within the surrounding area more than a thousand square kilometers,aerial survey was an effective method that can rapidly and comprehensively survey the number and distribution of over-wintering waterbirds.Aerial survey on over-wintering waterbirds in the Poyang Lake areas was made during January to February,2005 and February to March,2009.There were 321,044 of waterbirds found in the aerial survey in 2005;44,409,077 individuals of 44 species in 2009.Survey found that 5 globally threatened species as Grus leucogeranus,Ciconia boyciana,etc.with high proportion distributed in the Poyang Lake area;and also more than 20 sites birds of waterbirds concentrated were found.