Species and populations of waterbirds wintering in the Yarlung Zangbo and its tributaries in Tibet,China

To promote avian influenza surveillance, wetland conservation and management, surveys on the wintering waterbird community were conducted in the Yarlung Zangbo River valley of Tibet in January of 2009 and 2014. The two surveys recorded a total of 33 species and 90,407 individuals, and 24 species and 95,106 individuals, respectively. The geese and ducks accounted for over 90% of the total waterbirds counted. We recorded a total of 5,558 Black-necked Cranes in 2014. Lazi County has the highest count of 1,555 Black-necked Cranes, and other counties with high numbers include: Dazi (639), Nanmulin (598), Rikaze (572), Sajia (540), and Linzhou (395). There were no Black-necked Cranes recorded in Lhasa City, Duilongdeqing, Jiacha, Langkazi, Renbu and Nimu. By valleys, Yarlung Zangbo main valley had the highest number of 2,730 Black-necked Cranes, while Lhasa River valley had 993, Pengbo valley and Xiabuqu Chu each had 395 and 393 birds. A total of 45,681 and 67,031 of Bar-headed Geese (Anser indicus) were recorded in 2009 and 2014 respectively, mostly in Rikaze, Jiangzi, Bailang, Qushui, Dazi and Linzhou. Nyang Chu Valley, Pengbo Valley and Yarlung Zangbo Valley each had more than 10,000 Bar-headed Geese in 2014. The Bar-headed Geese usually moved in large flocks and foraged in winter wheat fields in the valleys.