An 18-year observation of a "chasing" birdman: more and more birds inhabit Chengdu

■ On the morning of September 4, he also participated in the meeting related to bird watching and ecological environmental protection in Ya'an, and today he will set off for Chongzhou Xishan to "chase" birds of prey, which is Shen You's two-day itinerary on the weekend.

■ Shen You, Chairman of Chengdu Bird Watching Association, Director of Ecotourism Research Institute of Sichuan Institute of Tourism, member of IUCN World Conservation Areas Committee (WCPA). Since 2003, he has been in contact with birds, he has watched birds, recognized birds, loved birds, protected birds, and then protected the bird habitat and run for ecological protection, and in the past 20 years, he has turned his hobby into work and accompanied birds all day long.

■ "Bird watching is so much fun that you'll be pleasantly surprised to see rare birds." Through bird watching, I was immersed in nature and very relaxed. Speaking of his favorite birds, Shen You's smooth tone has a hint of excitement, "Bird watching behavior can also bring a virtuous circle to ecological environmental protection, and the development of bird watching industry can also drive economic development." Therefore, bird watching is not only about 'viewing', but also about research, protection and development. ”

18 years of "chasing" birds

"Pleasing to the eye and valuable for research"

In the 1990s, Shen You, who was still in college, was keen on social investigation and social practice, and went to Qionglai, Dujiangyan, Ruoerge and other places to do social research. Shen You told reporters that after going to Ruoerge to conduct animal husbandry and grassland desertification surveys, he came into contact with a large number of wild animals, and then he learned that there was a "bird watching area" on the WWF China website, which gathered many early bird watching enthusiasts in China. "There was no special opportunity or time point that made me fall in love with bird watching, but in contact with nature, I slowly began to engage in this hobby and career." In my opinion, bird watching is a pleasing and research-worthy activity. ”

After graduating from university, Shen You continued to devote himself to the cause of natural ecological protection. In 2004, he co-founded the Chengdu Bird Watching Club. Over the years, Shen You has participated in a large number of project activities in the investigation and research of birds and their habitats, nature education and ecological civilization dissemination, environmental policy research and legislative suggestions, and the promotion of bird watching industry.

Speaking of the story of bird friends and birds, Shen You smiled and said, "That's too much." In 2007, he went to Aba Prefecture with several bird friends in Taiwan to watch birds, and when he returned, he went to the Chengdu Botanical Garden and saw the Shou Belt incubating eggs. "This is relatively difficult to see, they told me to keep an eye on this life belt, and when it hatches and leaves the nest, I must call them, and they will fly from Taiwan to Sichuan to witness this moment."

In order to study the black-necked crane, Shen You spent ten years in Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet and other places, recording all the information and pictures of the black-necked crane courtship, mating, laying eggs, incubating eggs, to the growth of young cranes, following the adult cranes to learn to fly, and then migrating, wintering and so on. "This satisfies my own intellectual needs for black-necked cranes and is good for the study of this species."

An intuitive feeling

More birds inhabit Chengdu, indicating that the ecological environment is improving

In addition to the pleasure of watching, bird watching also helps to protect the local environment.

"Birds are the barometer of ecology, and if a local ecosystem can meet the requirements of birds to inhabit, birds will come here to roost." Shen You said that in the course of many years of bird watching, he felt that with the increase of green space and wetland area, Chengdu's ecological environment has gradually stabilized, providing a friendly habitat for wild birds. From the data point of view, the number of bird species recorded in Chengdu has increased from more than 300 and more than 400 species to more than 500 species today, and the number of species is increasing. "To a certain extent, this can reflect the improvement of Chengdu's ecological environment, including the increase in the rate of green space and wetlands, and the harmonious coexistence between man and nature."

The joy of bird watching lies in seeing rare birds and scenes, in recording and researching, and in witnessing changes in the urban environment. Shen You told reporters that a Chengdu primary school student who likes bird watching suggested setting up some islands in Jinjiang to provide a roost platform for birds. "The relevant departments are negotiating and discussing the possibility of this matter. This is actually the role of bird watching activities in urban ecological and environmental protection. ”

In addition, bird watching activities in the countryside can also promote a virtuous circle of local ecological and environmental protection. "To some extent, it can change the perception of the local people. We go bird watching, and we generate some consumption, and they benefit from it, and they don't cut down trees and fight birds. ”

About the bird watching industry

The benefits of vigorously promoting development: "protecting the environment and developing the economy"

In 2004, Shen You took people to Shangmeng Township, Lixian County, to watch birds, and found that the main source of income for the locals was to dig up herbs in the mountains, "excessive digging of herbs will damage the environment, and they may also fight some wild animals and birds on the mountain, which will affect the entire ecological environment." Shen You said that with the increase in bird watching, flower watching and other kinds of tourism, the number of local people digging herbs in the mountains has begun to decrease, and some people have turned to farms and hotels to provide services for tourists. This releases environmental pressure, but also changes the local economic form, "this is the green consumption choice to the local environment, the local economic development of the change." ”

In Shen You's view, bird watching must eventually be industrialized in order to more systematically solve the contradiction between protection and development brought about by traditional production and lifestyle. "Bird watching, an eco-tourism, is a tourism activity that produces environmental, social and economic triple benefits through precise consumption and in-depth experience, and through professional services."

Shen You told reporters that in the United States, nearly 50 million people participate in bird watching every year, because of its ecological, sports, cultural education, aesthetic and other functions in one, the output value of more than 100 billion US dollars. "Sichuan's natural resources are very good background, bird resources are very rich, if you can pay attention to the bird watching industry, not only in the ecological construction of extraordinary significance, but also contains more than 100 billion yuan of industrial value."

Shen You also has a goal to influence and train 1 million bird lovers in Sichuan. Shen You told reporters that they entered dozens of primary schools, compiled and distributed the "Handbook for Nature Explainers", held bird watching activities, and carried out bird science popularization. "At the same time, we also hold bird watching competitions and bird watching festivals to showcase the diversity of birds in Chengdu and attract everyone's interest in birds." Shen You said, "The more birdwatchers, the more they know about birds and their habitats, and the more they understand, the more they will be kind to nature." At the same time, the growth of bird watching groups will also promote the development of bird watching economy, which is a road that not only protects the environment but also develops the economy. ”

Chengdu Business Daily - Red Star News reporter Peng Qing