A Sampling-event Dataset from the Survey of Wintering Waterbirds in Coastal Fujian Province, China

We present a sampling-event dataset from a synchronised survey of wintering waterbirds conducted across coastal wetlands in Fujian Province, China, in February 2006. The survey aimed to systematically assess regional distribution patterns and abundance of waterbirds. The geographical extent ranged from 23°43′N to 27°17′N and from 117°19′E to 120°18′E, covering 2,657.56 km². Systematic observations were carried out at 191 fixed survey points across 21 wetlands, including 25 wetland nature reserves. The dataset contains 108,125 recorded individuals of 64 waterbird species in 39 genera. The 10 most abundant species account for 84% of all individuals, comprising 4 shorebirds, 3 ducks, 1 gull, 1 egret and 1 cormorant. Records are organised according to Darwin Core standards as sampling events with linked occurrence records, ensuring comparability and reusability. This dataset provides a spatially explicit baseline for analyses of wintering waterbird distributions, long-term monitoring of population dynamics, and conservation planning for coastal wetlands in Fujian.