Effects of nature of recreational disturbances and intrinsic characteristics of birds on their responses to birdwatching activities

Recreational disturbances from birdwatching have been widely reported at birdwatching sites, implying the need for more in-depth explorations on how birdwatchers and birds interact to help manage disturbance from humans. This study investigated the influence and interaction of the nature of recreational disturbance with the intrinsic characteristics of birds on the responses of birds to birdwatcher activities. Data was collected in 25 field days from Oct 2019 to April 2020 at Mai Po Nature Reserve, a local Ramsar site in Hong Kong. Regarding the nature of disturbances, the visual impact was found to cause a more significant number of birds to be disturbed. Birds in the functional guild of dabblers were also shown to display a greater level of response to birdwatching activities. Based on the impacts and interactions between birdwatchers and birds, relevant recommendations on birdwatcher management are given.