Female Baer’s Pochard feeding her ducklings ⓒ Xingwu Zhou

Baer’s Pochard Task Force, EAAFP

On April 19th, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) released the results of a synchronous survey on the wintering Baer’s Pochard in China. This survey recorded that the population of the Baer’s Pochard in China reached 2,555, a significant increase from approximately 1,000 reported in 2012, objectively reflecting the effectiveness of Baer’s pochard conservation in China. National official media such as Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily Online and CCTV News reported simultaneously. 

This synchronous survey was carried out under the arrangement of SFGA, led and organized by the China Baer’s Pochard Conservation and Monitoring Working Group (Beijing Forestry University), and completed by 57 units including the wildlife authorities of the main wintering provinces of the Baer’s Pochard across the country, relevant protected areas management departments, China Birdwatching Association (Rosefinch Center), and Changjiang Conservation Foundation. A total of over 400 investigators conducted synchronous surveys at 212 habitats in 21 provinces where the Baer’s Pochard overwinters. A total of 2,555 Baer’s Pochard were recorded, and 16 important habitats were identified. For the first time, the overwintering population status of Baer’s pochard in China was clarified. 

Baer’s Pochard ⓒ Yuanxing Ye 

According to Professor Ding Changqing, Chair of EAAFP Baer’s Pochard Task Force and from Beijing Forestry University, this is the first wintering population census of Baer’s Pochard based on a comprehensive and scientific survey, and the conservation status and threat factors have been better understood. This provides a strong scientific basis for formulating targeted conservation measures in the next step. It also provides important data support for the IUCN Red List to update the global population change trends of the Baer’s Pochard. 

According to the survey results, the Baer’s pochard in China is distributed in 76 wintering habitats. Among them, there are 16 important habitats with a population of over 30 individuals (Table 1), a total of 2,136 individuals, accounting for 83.6% of the total. It is necessary to carry out key monitoring and protection. Among the wintering habitats, lake wetlands are the main type, accounting for 71.51% of all types, followed by river wetlands and ponds. Meanwhile, the investigation also found that the wintering habits of Baer’s Pochard are different from traditional perceptions. They prefer small abandoned fish ponds and medium to small-sized lakes with rich vegetation, showing a distinct trend of aggregation and distribution. 

The flying Baer’s Pochard ⓒ Yuanxing Ye 

The restoration of habitats in Minquan wetland, attracts the Pochard gathering in spring. ⓒ Yuanxing Ye 

SFGA attached great importance to the protection of Baer’s Pochard. In 2016, SFGA entrusted Beijing Forestry University to establish the “China Baer’s Pochard Protection and Monitoring Working Group” (has same group people with BPTF-China), which is responsible for organizing and coordinating the protection and monitoring of the Baer’s pochard in China. In recent years, BPTF-China has been engaged in ecological research on the Baer’s pochard, established national conservationa and monitoring network, hosted international conferences, compiled the “National Baer’s Pochard Conservation Action Plan”, and collaborated with Beijing Zoo to establish China’s first ex-situ breeding population and conducted research on the acclimation  release technology. Based on the research results, habitat restoration has been carried out in several important distribution areas in China, effectively promoting the protection and technological innovation of the Baer’s Pochard. 

According to People’s Daily Online, the SFGA will apply the results of this synchronous survey, improve the monitoring system construction, continuously increase the protection efforts of Baer’s Pochard and its key distribution areas in China. 

 A Baer’s Pochard Patrol Team established in Hubei province ⓒ CCF 

Publicity for the protection of the Pochard in Hengshui, Hebei Province ⓒ BPTF-China 

Table 1. The important wintering habitats of Baer’s Pochard in China.