We present a sampling-event dataset from a synchronised survey of wintering waterbirds conducted across coastal wetlands in Fujian Province, China, in February 2006. The survey aimed to systematically assess regional distribution patterns and abundance of waterbirds. The geographical extent ranged from 23°43′N to 27°17′N and from 117°19′E to 120°18′E, covering 2,657.56 km². Systematic observations were carried out at 191 fixed survey points across 21 wetlands, including 25 wetland nature reserves. The dataset contains 108,125 recorded individuals of 64 waterbird species in 39 genera. The 10 most abundant species account for 84% of all individuals, comprising 4 shorebirds, 3 ducks, 1 gull, 1 egret and 1 cormorant. Records are organised according to Darwin Core standards as sampling events with linked occurrence records, ensuring comparability and reusability. This dataset provides a spatially explicit baseline for analyses of wintering waterbird distributions, long-term monitoring of population dynamics, and conservation planning for coastal wetlands in Fujian.
The data in this sampling event resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables.
The core data table contains 191 records.
1 extension data tables also exist. An extension record supplies extra information about a core record. The number of records in each extension data table is illustrated below.
This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.
The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
Ding L, Cao J, Cao L, Xu Z, Zhao Q (2026). A Sampling-event Dataset from the Survey of Wintering Waterbirds in Coastal Fujian Province, China. Version 1.2. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Samplingevent dataset. https://www.gbifchina.org.cn/resource?r=birds_survey_2006&v=1.2
Sampling-event datasets; Waterbird population dynamics; Biodiversity monitoring; Species distribution; Waterbird conservation; Darwin Core standard; winter census; Coastal wetlands; Observation
We surveyed 191 sites across 21 coastal and offshore wetlands in Fujian Province, China, encompassing 25 wetland nature reserves.
| Bounding Coordinates |
South West [23.7, 117.3], North East [27.3, 120.3] |
A total of 108,125 individual waterbirds were recorded during systematic observations at 191 fixed survey points across 21 wetlands, representing 64 species and 39 genera.
| Order |
Anseriformes,
Charadriiformes,
Gaviiformes,
Gruiformes,
Pelecaniformes,
Podicipediformes,
Suliformes
|
| Start Date / End Date |
2006-02-08 / 2006-02-27 |
No Description available
| Title |
A Sampling-event Dataset from the Survey of Wintering Waterbirds in Coastal Fujian Province, China |
The personnel involved in the project:
In this survey, the Waterbird Population Estimates 3rd Edition (Delany & Scott, 2002) and the Waterbird Population Estimates 5th Edition (Mundkur & Nagy, 2012) were used as the standard taxonomic references for the recognition of waterbird species. These documents serve as the standard references for confirming waterbird populations of international significance.
| Study Extent |
The survey area encompassed the coastline of Fujian Province (23°43′N - 27°17′N, 117°19′E - 120°18′E). The 21 wetland survey sites varied widely in both spatial extent and habitat type, ranging from small sites of less than 10 km²(e.g. Yucheng Fish Ponds and Wenwusha Reservoir) to large estuarine bays exceeding 400 km²(e.g. Xinghua Bay and Sandu Bay). This sampling design maximises the capture of waterbird community patterns across a broad range of ecological settings and spatial scales. |
| Quality Control |
Existing research indicates that observers typically underestimate the numbers of large flocks of waterbirds (Rappoldt et al., 1985). Particularly across extensive wetland areas, undercounts resulting from visual obstruction and the birds' concealment behaviour remain a significant cause of bias in avian population estimates.
In this survey, large flocks of waterbirds were rarely observed, which helped to ensure a high degree of accuracy and reliability in recording both species diversity and population sizes. |
Method step description:
-
Counts for this survey were carried out by two teams of experienced observers, each equipped with Zeiss 10 ✕ 42 Victory roof prism binoculars and Leica Televid 77 telescopes with 20–60 ✕ zoom eyepieces.Survey sites were selected using existing information on regional hydrology and waterbird habitats. Potential locations were initially identified using high-resolution satellite imagery, and their coordinates were subsequently imported into GPS devices. Before conducting the field survey, the investigators comprehensively evaluated the characteristics of each potential site to determine the final locations and pre-planned the routes using the GPS system. Upon arrival at each target area, observation points were preferentially selected in leeward positions with wide, unobstructed views so as to obtain optimal visibility. Observation distances were adjusted dynamically according to visibility; under favourable conditions, flocks within a radius of 4–5 km of each observation point could be counted. When visibility was poor, the density of observation points was increased to effectively reduce survey blind spots and minimise the risk of undercounting.
Survey teams departed for the field sites at approximately 08:00 each morning, ensuring arrival at each wetland sampling point under favourable light conditions and during the morning peak of waterbird foraging activity, thereby facilitating accurate counts. Throughout the survey period, the weather was predominantly clear with good visibility, and wind speed and air temperature were moderate, providing conditions suitable for waterbird counts.
The wetland sites included in the survey were readily accessible by road, which made it possible to complete a comprehensive census within the designated survey period. Two main strategies were used to optimise coverage and efficiency: first, priority was given to vantage points that maximised the field of view; second, counts were concentrated during the high-tide period, when waterbirds congregate at high-tide roosts, to facilitate efficient enumeration.
| Acknowledgements |
This work was supported by the China Biodiversity Observation Networks (Sino BON). We gratefully acknowledge all participants involved in the field survey of wintering waterbirds along the coast of Fujian, particularly Xi Yu, Bofeng Liu, Zhonglan Yang, and Dingtuan Zheng for their roles in organising and coordinating the survey. We also thank Mark Barter for his contribution to report preparation, and Fujian Wildlife and Wetland Resources Monitoring Center, Fujian Wildlife Conservation Management Center, and WWF Hong Kong for their support. |
| Alternative Identifiers |
7308773f-488d-4037-9496-9ff33ff66669 |
|
https://www.gbifchina.org.cn/resource?r=birds_survey_2006 |