Migratory Birds Migrate, Dance, and Share Destiny - Observation of China's Ecological Civilization Practice in the Sunset | Luo Qi, Wei Meng, Jia, Cheng Yunjie | Migratory Birds | China

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 5th (Xinhua) - Question: Destiny and Co existence of Migratory Birds Moving and Dancing - Observation of China's Ecological Civilization Practice

Xinhua News Agency reporter Luo Qi, Wei Mengjia, Cheng Yunjie

The setting sun shines in the west, and the Five Dragon Pavilion in Beihai Park is surrounded by hundreds of flying birds.

"I'm particularly excited, my old friend has returned." One day in early April, Beijing resident Zhang Liting quickly recorded the location and number of these birds and shared the message with volunteer friends in the WeChat group.

Every spring, the Beijing Swift, which winters from southern Africa, undergoes an epic flight, flying over the Red Sea, crossing Inner Mongolia, and arriving in Beijing - their important habitat and breeding ground.

Zhang Liting is the team leader of the Beihai Park observation point of the Beijing Swift Scientific Survey Project. She and her volunteer partners make a special trip to Beihai Park at least once a week to take photos and record the population of swiftlets here. This not only provides basic monitoring data for the investigation of migratory bird populations, but also contributes to the protection of migratory birds.

Every year, billions of migratory birds migrate between continents. Among the 9 migration routes for migratory birds worldwide, 4 pass through China. On important migration routes related to the survival and reproduction of global migratory bird populations, more and more Chinese people are using their shared destiny and ecological innovation to love and protect birds. The modern vision of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is becoming a tangible reality.

Care - Building a "Migratory Bird Friendly" City

Beijing Swift, also known as the Beijing subspecies of the common Swift. In 1870, a British scientist first discovered a specimen of the Swift in Beijing and named this bird with narrow wings that resembled a sickle the "Beijing Swift".

In the eyes of many Beijing residents like Zhang Liting, the Beijing Swift is the "image ambassador" of Beijing. It is the only bird named after "Beijing", and the prototype of the 2008 Beijing Olympics mascot "Nini" was the Beijing Swift.

In addition to the Beijing Swift, every spring, there are also a large number of migratory birds such as gray cranes, black storks, and silver gulls migrating from the south through Beijing to the north.

During the investigation and interview, the reporter found that there are many bird friendly buildings in Beijing. The Guanting Reservoir National Wetland Park Museum, located in the northwest direction of Beijing, is a typical representative. The gaps between the facades of this building allow birds to build nests, and its glass curtain wall also adopts a grid like design that is more sensitive to bird vision, effectively preventing bird collisions.

A group of gray cranes are dancing in the Guanting Reservoir National Wetland Park in Huailai County. Photo by Yang Shiyao, journalist from Xinhua News Agency

In addition, Beijing is committed to improving the quality of mountainous forests, restoring wetland ecosystems, and providing necessary habitats, food, and water sources for birds. Since 2017, Beijing has built nearly 60 urban forests with "close to nature" characteristics, as well as artificial shrubs and ecological islands.

Volunteers from the Beijing Swift Scientific Survey Project have found that an increasing number of Swifts are building new homes between overpasses and skyscrapers. "Swift is gradually adapting to urban life in Beijing," said Zhang Liting.

In February of this year, China officially launched a national action to protect bird migration routes. The State Forestry and Grassland Administration has issued the "National Action Plan for the Protection of Bird Migration Channels", which specifies that 1140 locations, including the Shisanling Reservoir in Changping District, Beijing and Poyang Lake in Jiangxi, are important breeding grounds, wintering grounds, and migration stops for migratory birds.

"With the restoration of the ecological environment and the strengthening of people's awareness of ecological protection, it is hoped that in the future cities, humans and birds can become the best 'neighbors' and live more harmoniously under the same sky." said Jia Yifei, a young researcher at the East Asia Australia Migratory Bird Migration Research Center of Beijing Forestry University.

Guarding - Revitalizing the Homeland of Migratory Birds

Bird migration is a long and dangerous process, with migration distances often reaching thousands of kilometers. Every October to April of the following year, the globally endangered species, the black faced spoonbill, along with tens of thousands of migratory birds, gather in the southeastern coastal areas of China, such as Funing Bay and Luoyuan Bay in Fujian, to overwinter.

"It used to be difficult to see black faced spoonbill before, but now it appears every year and the number is basically stable at over a hundred." Zheng Zhiwu, a senior bird watcher in Fujian, said that the wetland environment is improving year by year, and rare birds have become "regulars".

The reporter saw in Luoyuan Bay that, under the wind of the sea, thousands of acres of lush mangroves formed bursts of green waves, separating the mudflat where birds live from the activity area of local residents, greatly reducing the impact of human activities on migratory birds.

The curly feather pelican swims in the waters of Luoyuan Bay in Luoyuan County. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mei Yongcun

Residents near Luoyuan Bay, Yu Sunli, told reporters that local villagers have relied on the sea for generations, and aquaculture is the main industry. Improper farming practices have had an impact on the habitat of local waterbirds, causing ecological balance to be disrupted at one point.

To revitalize the wetland, local marine ecological protection and restoration projects have been implemented, transforming a large number of aquaculture ponds into habitats for high tide waterbirds. The nearby fishing village has also built many bird watching boardwalks, and ecological bird watching tourism has become a "new business card" for local development.

Yu Sunli opened a restaurant near the Luoyuan Bay Mangrove Wetland Park. "In recent years, the ecology of Luoyuan Bay has improved, making it not only a paradise for migratory birds and bird friends, but also bringing tangible benefits to the local people," said Yu Sunli.

The development of Luoyuan Bay, from excessive exploitation of nature to meticulous care for it, is a microcosm of China's comprehensive promotion of wetland protection and restoration.

Since joining the Wetland Convention in 1992, China has successively passed the Wetland Protection Law of the People's Republic of China and multiple local wetland protection regulations, building a legal barrier for wetland protection.

At present, China has 82 internationally important wetlands, ranking fourth in the world in terms of area; 13 cities have been awarded the title of International Wetland City, with over 600 wetland nature reserves and over 900 national wetland parks established. Wetlands account for over 50% of all types of nature reserves.

"Year after year, migratory birds return. The living environment for birds has improved, and there are more people who protect and love them. This is the change and power brought about by social progress," Zheng Zhiwu said.

Collaboration - Destiny and Co existence Beyond Time and Space

The spoon billed sandpiper is one of the rarest waterbirds on the migration route of birds from East Asia to Australia, which is the busiest migratory bird lifeline in the world. During the migration period, the spoon billed sandpiper will rest in areas such as the Tiaozini Wetland in Dongtai, Yancheng, Jiangsu, and Beijiatujiao in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, for feeding and molting.

The world's rare bird, the spoon billed sandpiper, is foraging in the wetlands of Danzhou Bay, Hainan. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Pu Xiaoxu

"The characteristics of migratory birds' migration determine that their conservation achievements are closely related to every link in the channel path. The East Asia Australia bird migration channel involves more than 20 countries and regions, and strengthening international cooperation is a necessary option." said Guan Lei, project manager of Ren Niaofei at the Beijing Entrepreneur Environmental Protection Foundation.

The reporter learned that currently, the protection of migratory bird migration channels still faces challenges such as habitat fragmentation, insufficient funding, and regional imbalances.

"Only by leveraging global efforts to protect the habitats of migratory birds and promoting the construction of a community of life can more effective protection be provided for their migration," said Jia Yifei.

At present, China has signed bilateral agreements on migratory bird protection with Japan, South Korea, Australia, Russia, New Zealand and other countries, is carrying out international cooperation around the East Asia Australia Waterfowl Partnership and other related contents, and actively participates in the "the Belt and Road" migratory bird protection work.

Jia Yifei introduced that in the project to save the spoon billed sandpiper, the Chinese scientific research team actively participated in the investigation and protection of breeding and wintering grounds in countries along the migration route such as Russia and Myanmar, organized synchronous investigation and monitoring, carried out breeding ground management education and training, and provided expert technical services, achieving good results.

In 2019, China's Yellow Sea migratory bird habitat heritage declaration was officially included in the The World Heritage List, becoming one of the only two intertidal wetland heritage sites in the world.

Guan Lei said, "This achievement not only helps to promote global joint protection of the East Asia Australia bird migration route, but also injects strong impetus into building a community of life on Earth."

Another consolation for migratory bird guardians is that there are constantly younger generations joining the team of bird lovers and guardians. In Beijing, Zhang Liting has an additional partner during her weekly Swift survey - her 13-year-old daughter.

"I believe that the figure of Beijing Swift will also become the next generation's beautiful memory of the sky," said Zhang Liting.