Rudong Coastal Bird Survey And Intertidal Wind Power On Migratory Waterbirds, Jiangsu Province

Rudong coastal located in the middle of the East Asia-Australasia flyway is an important stopover and overwintering site of migratory birds, and it attracts a large number of migratory birds ever year. Due to its wide natural mudflats and abundant wind energy resources, Rudong coastal has become an important base for China’s offshore wind power. The largest intertidal wind farm in China is located here. In order to study the intertidal wind farms on migratory bird community composition, this research was observed and recorded bird species and quantity from December 2014 to November 2015 in Rudong coastal, and also observed waterbird communities in spring and autumn migratory season for Rudong Yangkou intertidal wind farm and the surrounding area. The results can provide reference for the construction and operation of wind farms. And it is also importance to bird preservation. The main results obtained are as follows:1. Bird community component in Rudong coastalTotally,198 kinds of birds belonging to 15 orders and 48 families were recorded, including 137 species of Palaearctic species, accounting for 69.19% of the total number of bird species; 52 species belonged to Oriental species, accounting for 26.26% of the total number of bird species; widespread species is 9, accounting for 4.55% of the total number of bird species. There are 37 winter visitors, accounting for 18.69% of the total number of bird species; traveling birds of 107 species, accounting for 54.04% of the total number of bird species; summer visitors from 20 species, accounting for 10.10% of the total number of bird species; 34 resident bird species, accounting for 17.17% of the total number of bird species.2. Seasonal variation of bird communities in Rudong CoastalBird Community change significantly in different seasons, the number of species: spring> autumn> summer> winter; Number:spring> autumn> summer> winter; Bird Diversity:autumn> spring> summer> winter; abundance of birds:spring> autumn> summer> winter. The migratory birds are higher then breeding and wintering birds, most of the birds are given priority to with transit, only for a short stay in the region.3. Different habitats of bird communities in Rudong wind farm and the surrounding areaWhen Xioayangkou different coastal habitats survey found that bird communities are very different in different plots. Where in the bird species and quantity:tsutsumiuchi abandoned area> mudflats area>climax vegetation area> offshore area; Bird Diversity Compare:offshore zone<tsutsumiuchi abandoned area<climax vegetation zone< mudflats area; and the birds were Degree index:tsutsumiuchi abandoned area< mudflats area<offshore zone<climax vegetation zones; bird abundance index:offshore zone<climax vegetation zone< mudflats area<tsutsumiuchi abandoned area. By understanding the preferences of different bird habitats provide recommendations for siting wind farms.4. Waterfowl communities between the wind area and the control areaComprehensive view of the entire spring and autumn migration period, the number of bird species and quantity of the control zone is greater than the wind area; from different periods of migration, the mid migratory birds are more than the early and late migration; analysis of different elevation from the transect lines, the number of bird species:high mudflats area> middle mudflats area> low mudflats area, the number of birds:middle mudflats area> high mudflats area> low mudflats area. Comparison of different zones and the control zone windmill bird community, indicating the presence of wind farms on bird community.5. Correlation analysis of habitat factors and bird community.Results based on the correlation analysis of different habitat factors and bird community showed that Windmills were negatively correlated to bird species, density, diversity index, dominance index, richness index, but no significant correlation. The area of Water surface wes negatively correlated to the species and density of birds, positively correlated to the distance from the estuary, the area of the nude beaches, habit in the dam and elevation.6. Collision risk of Birds and windmills.Different species have different flying height to the birds in wind farms. The flying height of gulls was 90～150m, herons was 150～200m, large waders was 40～100m. Just consider from flying height, the flying height of gulls and waders was closer to the rotating range of the windmill blades. They would have a greater threat to collide with windmill compared to others.Through this study we found intertidal wind farm construction would affect bird community, so the number of birds has decreased, but at the same time there are still some wind farm birds distribution. The intertidal wind farm can still as the habitat and feeding grounds of birds. And birds of wind farm have certain adaptability.