Diversity of the Birds Captured at Night in Ailao Mountain, Xinping County, Yunnan Province

Abstract

The composition of nocturnal migratory birds was investigated by light trapping at Jinshan yakou in Ailao Mountain, Xinping County, Yunnan Province from September 5th to November 5th 2007 and from September 3rd to November 7th 2008. Totally, 7943 individuals of 129 species, which belong to 23 families, 14 orders, were caught. Passerines were the main species at 58.9% of all birds captured. Lanius cristatus , Cuculus poliocephalus , Luscinia calliope were predominant and every one was more than 5%. The number of birds captured was highest from 20:00 to 22:00 and from 04:00 to 06:00 every day. During 2007 and 2008£¬Both of Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou evenness index were lowest, and C index was highest in early period. However, both of the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou evenness index were highest, and C index was lowest in the middle stage. C index and G-F index were higher in 2007 than in 2008. But Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou evenness index were higher in 2008 than in 2007. There were differences with the number and species of the birds captured at night between various birds migration localities. Geography and climate were important factors that affect the differences.