Abstract: East Dongting Lake is the largest and well-preserved natural seasonal lake in Dongting Lake groups.It has formed diverse and stable wetland resource types, and is an important overwintering habitat for migratory waterbirds.Based on the waterbird survey data of East Dongting Lake and the water level data at Chenglingji Station, the variation characteristics of water level, waterbird species, quantity and diversity, population of dominant waterbird groups were analyzed.The impact of water level fluctuation on the community structure and diversity of waterbird was studied.The results showed that within the corresponding water level fluctuation during the waterbird survey period, the populations of waterbirds in East Dongting Lake had a good degree of fitting with the water level at Chenglingji Station, and the water level had no significant impact on the number of species, the waterbird diversity and the populations of dominant waterbird groups.Based on the analysis of the main reasons for the impact of water level fluctuation on the community structure and diversity of waterbirds in winter, water level regulation and utilization suggestions from the perspective of winter waterbird protection in East Dongting Lake were proposed.It is recommended to strengthen the research on the multi-process coupling mechanism of wetland ecology and hydrology, so as to provide a scientific basis for the optimal regulation of the water level of East Dongting Lake and the protection of water bird biodiversity.