Abstract:

The investigations on current status of waterbirds in 50 sites of Hainan Island were conducted consecutively in winter from 2002 to 2004, with the aim of further strengthening the conservation and management of wetlands in Hainan Island. Among 67 species recorded during the investigations, some waterbirds were often recorded such as Tachybaptus ruficollis, Ardea spp., Charadrius alexandrinus, C. mongolus, Pluvialis squatarola, Tringa nebularia, T. tetanus, T. stagnatilis, Actitis hypoleucos, however, some waterbirds were merely observed at few sites such as Anas spp., Chlidonias leucopterus, Gelochelidon niloti, C. leschenaultia, Limosa limosa, L. lapponica, Calidris canutus, C. tenuirostris, C. ferruginea, Limicola falcinellus. In addition, some waterbirds which were extremely common thirty years ago, such as common crane, Green-winged Teal and Coot, were not observed. Because of covering mangroves and many ponds, some wetlands of estuary and bay like Dongzhaigang, Yangpu Port and Beili Bay were selected as feeding and roost sites by many waterbirds. Many inland wetlands like Nanli Lake and Yunyue Lake were destroyed due to economic development, which reduced waterbirds biodiversity greatly. The results of conservation priority area assessment showed that 9 sites should be protected as high priorities for biodiversity conservation, I.e., Dongzhaigang, Houshui Bay, Beili Bay, Yangpu Port, Sanya River, Qinlan Port, Minrenshan and Yinggehai. Some endangering factors in these wetlands have negative effects on, and even great threat to waterbirds and their habitats, such as mudflat exploitation, ocean pollution, seafood collecting, illegal hunting and tourism.

Key words: wintering waterbirds, diversity, conservation priority, Hainan Island