Monitoring and Population Assessment of Baer's Pochard In
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Monitoring An assessment of the wintering popula4on of Baer’s Pochard in central Myanmar Thiri Dae We Aung, Thet Zaw Naing, Saw Moses, Lay Win, Aung Myin Tun, Thiri Sandar Zaw and Simba Chan May 2016 Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association Page May 2016 Submitted To:Oriental Bird Club P.O.Box 324, Bedford, MK42 0WG, United Kingdom. Submitted By: Thiri Dae We Aung1, Thet Zaw Naing2, Saw Moses3, Lay Win4, Aung Myin Tun5, Thiri Sandar Zaw6, Simba Chan7 1 Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association, Myanmar 2 Wildlife Conservation Society, Myanmar 3 4 5 6 Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association, Myanmar 7 BirdLife International, Tokyo, Japan To obtain copies of this report contact: Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association, No.943(A), 2nd floor, Kyeikwine Pagoda Road, Mayangone Township, Yangon, Myanmar. [email protected] Front Photo Caption: Sighting Baer’s Pochard at Pyu Lake (photo by: Simba Chan) Suggested citation: Aung, T.D, T.Z. Naing, S. Moses, L. Win, A.M. Tun, T.S. Zaw & S. Chan. 2016. An assessment of the wintering population of Baer’s Pochard in central Myanmar. Unpublished report, Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association: ?? pp. Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association Page Table of Contents ABSTRACT..............................................................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................4 AREAS SURVEYED AND SURVEY TIMING................................................................................................5 SURVEY METHODS.................................................................................................................................7 RESULTS.................................................................................................................................................9 Baer’s Pochard observaUons..............................................................................................................9 Brochure & LeaXet distribuUon.......................................................................................................10 PotenUal Threats..............................................................................................................................10 DISCUSSION.........................................................................................................................................11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.........................................................................................................................14 REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................15 Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association Page ABSTRACT The critically endangered Baer’s Pochard (Aythya baeri) was last recorded in Myanmar in 2003. In order to ascertain the current status of the species in Myanmar, a comprehensive survey was conducted at 22 sites, site visited at two sitesand one by getting the information in central Myanmar in January, March and April 2016. Direct observations were used to count the population of waterbird species. Population trend are hard to come by given the species’s similarity to other diving ducks. At least 12 individual of Baer’s Pochard were found in Pyu Lake near Mandalay city. The lake is probably natural and is used for irrigation. Its ecosystem support to both migratory and resident waterbird species as well as benefits to the local people such as food, regular water supplies and protect from extreme weather. The information of Baer’s Pochard in Indawgyi Lake, northern Myanmar and Inle Lake, eastern Myanmar from bird surveyors and birding tour guide were recorded. According to the past records of Baer’s Pochard in Myanmar, this species may well be entering a downward spiral toward global extension. Although no evidence was found of trapping or poisoning of Baer’s Pochard in recent year, hunting is still likely to be significant threats. Human presence may also cause indirect effects through disturbance. A thorough remote sensing analysis is required to identify potential suitable wetland habitats to be targeted by future surveys of Baer’s Pochard. Urgent measures on the potential negative effects on wintering waterfowl must be taken to reduce the pressure of hunting, fishing practices, especially at key wintering sites. Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association Page INTRODUCTION Baer’s Pochard (Aythya baeri) has declined drastically in recent years (Wang et al. 2012, Hearn et al. 2013) and the global population is estimated to be 150-700 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2016) or 250-1,000 in total (Wetlands International 2016). In the 1990s, a number of countries in southern Asia, particularly Thailand and Bangladesh, supported hundreds of wintering birds, but in recent years the number of observations has dropped to only a few birds wintering annually. Myanmar also previously held an important wintering population of Baer’s Pochard, but no detailed information has been available since 2004. This species has been completely protected in national legislation law by Ministry of Forestry since 1994. There are no protected sites especially for Baer’s Pochard but Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Inle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary and Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary are recognised as Important Bird & Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) for migratory waterbird species. Previous censuses of waterbirds in Myanmar have located Baer’s Pochard at Moeyungyi Wetland Sanctuary, Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Inle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Kyee ne Inn, Taung Kan-Se daw gyi, Paleik Inn, Myitthar Lake and Nyaungyan Min Hla Lake. Wintering waterbird surveys were conducted at Indawgyi Lake, Inle Lake and Moeyungyi wetland in 2012, 2013 and 2014 by BANCA and FFI. But no more Baer’s Pocahrd were recorded in these areas. Information on waterbird numbers at Indawgyi Lake, Inle Lake and Moeyungyi can be obtained from bird surveyors or birding guides or other biodiversity and environmental conservation associations who routinely visit these sites. Therefore, during this census we focused on sites where it is not possible to get information on the presence of Baer’s Pochard. In Myanmar, the total area of wetland habitat is gradually reducing due to the extension of farmlands by local people. Furthermore, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has contaminated many existing wetlands and threatens the existing biologically diverse plant and animal communities and adds to the difficulty in conserving wetland environments. Illegal fishing by means of electric-shock further enhances the depletion and extinction of aquatic animals. The objectives of this project were to: (1) stimulate active public involvement in research and conservation of Baer’s Pochard, (2) document the current abundance and distribution of Baer’s Pochard at wetland areas in central Myanmar and (3) assess the threats facing migratory waterbirds in central Myanmar. Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association Page AREAS SURVEYED AND SURVEY TIMING Based on the compilation and review of past published records of Baer's Pochard in Myanmar and current habitat suitability, surveys to assess the status and distribution of Baer’s Pochard were conducted by three time on January, March and April 2016 at the following lakes in central Myanmar: (1) Taung Kan, (2) Taung Tha Man Inn, (3) Yae Myat Kyi Inn, (4) Kaung Hmu Daw Inn, (5) Pyu Lake, (6) Paleik Inn, (7) Lettaung Inn (Banaw village), (8) Inn Ma Lake, (9) Sone Ye Inn, (10) Min Hla Lake, (11) Ku Lae Inn, (12) Maung Ma Gan Inn, (13) Nyaung Yan Minhla Kan, (14) Meikhtila Lake, (15) Kyee Ni Lake, (16) Mae Aung Kan, (17) Myitthar Kan, (18) Yet Kan Sin Inn, (19) Sout Kyi Inn, (20) Ayeyarwaddy River Bank between Sagaing and Manandalay, (21) Inle Lake, (22) San Kar Lake, (23) Heho Dam, (24) Thamine Kan Lake and (25) Yae Aye Gan Lake. (See Fig 1 and Table 1). Figure 1. Location of 25 sites surveyed in central Myanmar in January, March and April in 2016. Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association Page Table 1. Survey location and dates undertaken in 2016. No Area Note Survey sites Survey date Location . (ha) 1 Taung Kan 10-Jan-16 22.20237°N 96.21879°E 50 + 2 Taung Tha Man Inn 10 Jan, 7 March 2016 21.9061909° N 96.07358855°E 300 + 3 Yae Myat Kyi Inn 11-Jan-16 22.0749989°N 95.8746109°E 5180 + 4 Kaung Hmu Daw Inn 11, 15 Jan 2016 21.9303608° N 95.9325562°E 100 + 12,16,25, 28 Jan, 3 5 Pyu Lake 21.7707844°N 95.8976288°"E + March, 7 April 2016 13, 15, 18, 26, 29 Jan, 4 + 6 Paleik Inn 21.8338451°N 96.0554886°E 50 March, 7 April 2016 Lettaung Inn(Banaw 13, 18, 25 Jan 2016, 5 7 21.8258362°N 96.0225296°E + Village) March 8 Inn Ma Lake 17-Jan-16 22.376503°N 96.478333°E + 9 Son Ye Inn 19-Jan-16 21.6756344°N 96.2163391°E + 10 Min Hla Lake 19-Jan-16 21.7390099°N 96.1819611°E 2.033 + 11 Ku Lae Inn 20-Jan-16 22.5828228°N 95.9752960°E 100 + 12 Maung Ma Gan Inn 20-Jan-16 22.4784641°N 96.0689850°E + Nyaung Yan Minhla - 13 22-Jan-16 22.4784641°N 96.0689850°E Kan 14 Meikhtila Lake 22,23 Jan 2016 20.8510075N 95.8503723E + 15 Kyee Ni Lake 23-Jan-16 20.41667°N 96.1500000°E 617 - 16 Mae Aung Kan 23-Jan-16 20.3131638°N96.1598053°E 22 + Infor Myitthar Kan/ Yit 17 24-Jan-16 21.383333°N 95.966667°E 1050 matio Lake n 18 Yet Kan Sin Inn 27-Jan-16 22.3977127°N 96.0679550°E + 19 Sout Kyi Inn 27-Jan-16