Bird Diversity and Seasonality in Urban Parks of Guangzhou

Bird diversity was surveyed in five urban parks of Guangzhou from January 1999 to April 2000, and from July 2006 to June 2007, using a transect line method. A total of sixty-four bird species were recorded. Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonica), Chinese Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis), and Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nyctinorax) were dominant species. Residents, winter visitors and summer visitors accounted for 64.1%, 26.6% and 7.8% of recorded bird species, respectively. The greatest number of species was recorded in September (31), the least was recorded in July (20) and November (20). The mean encounter rates of birds was 65±;5 ind./h (±SE), with the highest in March (98±29 ind./h) and lowest in January (35±11 ind./h). There was fluctuation, but it did not differ significantly between months (F _11,48=1.35, P= 0.226). There were a greater number of migratory species in April, September and December. Encounter rates of migratory birds significantly differed between months (F _11，48=3.098，P=0.003). Bird richness differed among the five parks and significantly and positively correlated with the park area (R=0.905, P=0.035), with S=11.02 A0.28 (S：bird species richness, A：park area). This meant that a greater number of bird species occurred in larger parks. Parks with an area of about 65 hm2 were better for avian diversity conservation and land use in Guangzhou.