The Study On Nocturnal Migrating Birds In Yunnan Province

Located in the western corridor of China, Yunnan Plateau Mountains distribute numerous nocturnal rallying points for migrating birds. In the annual migratory season, a large number of migrating birds are killed by the villagers living in these mountains which are known as "Shoot Birds Mountains". In this research, we made a16-year field investigation at11nocturnal rallying points, and collected the data about "Shoot Birds Mountains". Drawing upon the questionnaire survey and statistical analysis, we have conducted detailed research on such topics as the distribution of nocturnal rallying points, the diversity of migratory birds, the phototaxis of migratory birds at night, and the protection and management of nocturnal migrating birds. The major results are as follows.(1) Up to now, we have found21nocturnal rallying points for migratory birds in23counties in Yunnan Province. Most of these points are distributed in two migration channels for nocturnal migrating birds, namely the western Yunling-Ailaoshan Honghe migration channel and the eastern Wumeng-Wenshan migration channel.(2) According to a16-year field investigation for major nocturnal rallying points and the collection of relevant data, we recorded275kinds of nocturnal migrant birds in Yunnan province belonging to15orders and37families. These birds account for71.4%of the order,42.0%of the family and30.6%of the species respectively in the record of birds in Yunnan Province. Among them there are58903birds belonging to passeriformes, which amount to183species and account for66.7%of the species and68.7%of the number within the total captured birds. The biggest family of the captured birds is turdidae and has18510, adding up to49species and accounting for17.9%of the species and21.6%of the number. The most species is Siberian Rubythroat and has9623, adding up to11.2%of the total captured birds. Other species including Red-throated Flycatcher, Brown Shrike and Olive-backed Pipit account for large number of the captured birds.(3) We also found111nocturnal migrant birds which are recorded as resident birds in Yunnan and most of them belong to alternative migrating birds.(4) In terms of the distribution type, the largest number of nocturnal migrant birds captured at night belongs to oriental-distribution type with97types accounting for35.4%of the total captured birds. The major birds belonging to the types of Northeast, Palaearctic and Northeast-North China are migrant birds which amount to the largest number of the captured birds. But the resident birds belong to the major types of Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains and South China; they cover many species but small number. The features of the migration channel in places of capturing the birds are reflected by the distribution type, species and number of the captured birds in rallying points.(5) During the migration, the migrant birds are affected significantly by the moon phase and weather. When it is dark, foggy and upwind in the night, the birds are affected by negative factors and usually fly lower. If attracted by light, they would diverge the normal direction and tend to fly toward the light.(6) The migrant birds reveal the photo taxis in spring and especially in autumn. They are occasionally trapped by light when it is foggy in summer and winter. The phototaxis of the migrant birds is related to the season in which the birds migrate.(7) At the moment, many rallying points for migrating birds lack in effective management. As one of the traditional customs of the villages around the "Shoot Birds Mountains", shooting birds occurs every year and causes the tragedy and comedy when birds are whining and the villagers are cheering. Therefore, it is necessary for the government to enforce effective administration.