Impact of tourism on bird behavior: a comparison of flight initiation distance between birds in areas of tourist and non-tourist attraction

This study was conducted in May 2022 in Xijiang Miao Village (Figure 1a, b) and Zhaoxing Dong Village (Figure 1c, d) (25°19′–27°31′ N, 107°17′–109°35′ E) as areas of tourist attractions (both rated as the National 4A-level Tourist Attractions), with the surrounding villages and residential areas (Figure 1e, f) as non-tourist attractions in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture in southeastern Guizhou Province, China.Xijiang Miao Village is located in Xijiang Town, Leishan County, Guizhou Province. It is a famous historical and cultural town in China. The scenic area covers an area of 5.5 km2, and the village has more than 1,400 households and more than 6,000 residents, with Miao people accounting for 99.5% of the population, making it the largest Miao village in China and even the world. According to government statistics, from May 1 to 5, 2024, Xijiang Miao Village received a total of 157,314 tourists (http://whhly.guizhou.gov.cn/xwzx/szdt/202405/t20240507_84591741.html).Zhaoxing Dong Village is located in the southeastern part of Liping County, Guizhou Province. As one of the National Key Scenic Spots, the core area currently covers 18 km2, with more than 1,200 households and 5,200 residents, making it one of the largest Dong villages in China. Preliminary statistics show that during the holiday from April 29 to May 5, 2024, Zhaoxing Scenic Area received 68,400 visitors (http://www.lp.gov.cn/newsite/ztzl/rdzt/zxjq/202403/t20240308_83902438.html).This study compared the differences in the flight initiation distance (FID) of Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) between areas of tourist attraction (Xijiang Miao Village and Zhaoxing Dong Village) and non-tourist attraction (surrounding villages) in Guizhou Province, southwestern China. We found that Eurasian tree sparrows in areas of tourist attraction exhibited smaller FIDs than those in areas of non-tourist attraction, suggesting that Eurasian tree sparrows inhabiting areas with higher levels of human disturbance demonstrate a greater ability to adapt to anthropogenic disturbance. Moreover, the tolerance of Eurasian tree sparrows was less influenced by the size of the flock. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the differences in behavioral responses of birds to different intensities of human disturbance in areas of tourist attractions and adjacent areas of non-tourist attractions. It highlights the notable impact of human activities on wildlife, contributing to the scientific management and protection of birds in urban environments.