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The function of the buffer zone of nature reserve is seldom evaluated in wildlife conservation. National Yancheng Rare Birds Nature Reserve is the largest coastal nature reserve in China. The environmental capacity of its core zone of 225.96 km² area is approaching saturation, and more and more birds have begun to utilize the buffer zone. We conducted a line transect survey in December 2010 to estimate bird density and evaluate the importance of the buffer zone. As a result, 34 protected species among the 4975 individuals were sighted, including 127 red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) and 868 common cranes (Grus grus). The overall density of protected species, winter migratory species, and resident birds was 1244.60 individuals/km², 396.88 individuals/km² and 758.94 individuals/km² respectively. The woodland, aquaculture, and farmland with >200 individuals/km² each signified the vital habitat of birds. Comparatively, density in the original habitat (woodland) is relatively higher than that in artificial habitats (aquaculture and farmland), which reached 81.0%, 13.9% higher than aquaculture and farmlands. These observations suggest that the northern buffer zone comprises of vital habitats for bird population. We recommend that priority should be given to the northern buffer zone to preserve the original habitat, whereas conversion of the original habitat to aquaculture and farmland use should be given great concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buffer zone (BZ) of nature reserve is usually ignored in protecting bird diversity. Yancheng Rare Birds National Nature Reserve, the largest coastal reserve of China, supports higher bird diversity, but the buffer zone (BZ) function and its avian fauna composition remained unclear. In December 2010, we investigated the bird diversity in BZ of Yancheng reserve covering 188.8 km transect line. As a result, 50 species belonging to 26 families and 13 orders were identified. The general bird diversity index H in BZ is 2.291 with evenness of 0.583, and three orders viz., Ciconiiformes, Passeriformes and Charadriiformes, showed high bird diversity (H > 1). Considering high bird diversity and preference of 32 protected species including endangered red-crowned (Grus japonensis) and grey cranes (Grus grus), the northern BZ should be now considered to be priority protected area and even upgraded to core area. Although relationship index (I) between aquaticulture area and cultivated fields was 0.688, the dominant species compositon in aquaticulture area (five species comprised 75.3%) and cultivated fields (two species comprised 73.6%) was significantly different. Therefore both the habitats were equally important for bird conservation, and should be given the same protection efforts. Under the influence of natural forces and anthropogenic activities, the habitats are continuously changing. Therefore, we suggest monitoring the bird diversity annually, so that we can take targeted and effective protection measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]