The Behavior Patterns Of Wintering Waterfowls In Artificial Wetland At Chongming Dongtan

Our study aims to investigate the behavior patterns of wintering waterfowls at the artificial wetland in Chongming Dongtan to produce a strategy for protection and management of their habitats.For last two years(from the beginning of November 2006 to the end of February 2007 & from the beginning of November 2007 to the end of February 2008),we observed the diurnal behaviors and nocturnal behaviors of 10 species of wintering waterfowls.We observed diurnal behaviors of 8 species of wintering waterfowls that was Little Egret(Egretta garzetta),Squawk(Ardea cinerea),Coot(Fulica atra),Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis),Spot-billed Duck(Anas poecilorhyncha),Mallard(A. platyrhynchos),Herring Gull(Larus argentatus)and Great Cormorant(Phalacrocorax car bo).We took the Spot-billed Duck and Mallard as one type,because they could not be distinguished in the observing distance.The findings indicated:Little Egret,squawk, Spot-billed Duck and Mallard mostly showed standing still behavior(34.09%,45.45% and 54.55%respectively),Coot and Great Cormorant preferred to feeding behavior (32.58%and 35.00%respectively);Swimming was the major behavior of Little Grebe and Herring Gull(44.70%and 31.82%respectively).The waterfowls which forage or roost in the pond during the daytime,such as Little Egret,Squawk,Spot-billed Duck & Mallard,Herring Gull flied out of the pond during sunset and foraged or roosted in the farmland and forest area behind seawall or intertidal mudflat at night,then flied in during sunrise.The species and quantity of waterfowls was decreased.And the visibility was low in night.So we observed nocturnal behaviors of 4 species of wintering waterfowls that was Black-crowned Night-Heron(Nycticorax nycticorax),Coot(Fulica atra),Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)and Little Grebe(Tachybaptus ruficollis).There was a strong significant difference between waterfowls which stayed in and stayed out the fishing pond during the nocturnal period in their activities.Black-crowned Night-Heron rested in the forest during the day and flied into the pond separately after 17:00～17:30,inhabiting bared mudflat and reed strip in the pond dispersedly,however foraging behavior mainly happen after about 23:30,which occupied over 70%of total nocturnal behavior frequency. Moorhen and Coot present frequent activities at night,with movements on reed strip and water area around it.During 21:30～2:30,the percentage of their nocturnal foraging reached the climax(about 60%~90%),and then the main behavior turned to resting after 2:30～3:30.Little Grebe with frequently diurnal activities stayed in the pond at night and rested in the water in most time.The results suggested that the waterfowls had a various nocturnal behavior,which was likely related with the mode of their diurnal activities.Waterfowls'diurnal activities were positively correlated with temperature and sunlight,but negatively correlated with wind.However,the relatively constant water level did insignificant affection on the activity of waterfowls in our study area.