Bird Market Trade Threatens Wild Birds

Author of the article:LI Xiang, XIANG Chenxu, LIU Xinyu, LIU Rui, XING Xiaoying^*

Author's Workplace：College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China

Key Words：bird market; investigation; illegal trade; conservation; Harbin

Abstract：In order to explore the impact and threat of bird market trade on wild species and to provide scientific advice for the local administration of wildlife conservation, from November 2016 to November 2017, 18 surveys were conducted in the Daowai Flower, Bird and Fish Market, which is the largest bird market in Harbin city, Heilongjiang province. The results showed that: (1) there were 117 bird species (belonging to 83 genera, 34 families and 6 orders) including 108 wild bird species (belonging to 77 genera, 32 families and 5 orders), and among of which, 11 662 wild bird individuals accounting for 62.3% of the total were recorded. We also found that the nationally protected birds (such as Emberiza aureola), raptors and illegal hunting tools were sold in this market. (2) Among the sold wild birds, 69 species accounting for 63.9% of the total wild species were distributed in Heilongjiang province, and the total sales reached 9 707 birds, accounting for 83.2% of the total sales of wild birds. (3) According to the general trend of bird trafficking in a whole year, there were more birds being sold in spring and autumn. Most of the wild birds were sold during the migratory season, from July to October, accounting for 45.2% of the total annual sales. The result of correlation analysis further revealed that wild birds distributed in Heilongjiang province were the main species illegally trapped and traded at the local bird market. (4) Many traded bird species accounting for 32.4% of all wild species came from southern China, indicating the severity of illegal wild bird transportation in a certain extent. It is suggested that the relevant departments of wildlife protection should strengthen the supervision of wildlife during the migratory season in hot-spot habitats and highways to fight against both illegal trapping and transporting of wild birds.