Today is April 1st, which is not only a familiar April Fool's Day, but also a day full of love - International Bird Day. The International Day for Birds was established because of people's concern for the living environment of birds and the pursuit of ecological balance. As an important part of the earth's ecosystem, the presence and reproduction of birds are of great significance to maintaining the balance and stability of the entire ecosystem. Therefore, the establishment of the International Bird Day aims to arouse the attention of the public around the world to the protection of birds and jointly protect these flying elves.
During today's bird festival, let's head to the surrounding wetlands and parks to see what excellent bird viewing meccas are waiting to be explored.
National Arboretum
Our first stop was the National Botanical Garden, which included the South Garden (Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences) and the North Garden (Beijing Botanical Garden). Among them, walk north along the east wall of the Botanical Garden. Because it's closer to West Hill and there are fewer tourists, there will be less disturbance to the birds. It is relatively easy to see birds and even birds of prey adapted to shallow mountain life. The west side of the park is the main ornamental route of the botanical garden, which has a large green management and protection capacity. At the same time, it is distributed in various water areas and has the characteristics of various ecological environments.
As one of Beijing's bird-watching meccas, it is said that in April, in addition to the common mallards, little grebes, pearl-necked turtle doves, black water pheasants, sparrowhawks, red-billed blue magpies and various mountain magpies, there is also a chance to see the uncommon black-headed grebes, blackbirds, tin-billed finches and oriental horned owls.
Nanhaizi Park
As an important part of the East Asian-Australian bird migration route, about 500 species of birds migrate through Beijing every spring. Most birds avoid the hustle and bustle of the city and pass by the outskirts of Beijing. Nanhaizi Park is located in the south of Jingnan and is the first stop for migratory birds to cross Beijing.
Nanhaizi Park is located in Daxing District, and after years of ecological environmental protection and construction, it has become one of the most biodiverse areas in the south of Beijing. Today's Nanhaizi Park, with its vast water surface, meandering rivers, diverse terrain and lush vegetation, provides an abundant source of food and good shelter for animals, attracting birds to inhabit and stay. It has also become a good place for citizens to spend their holidays and watch birds.
White swans, mergansers, mallards, wild geese, whooper swans, ruddy shelducks, and grebes can all be seen in Nanhaizi Park.
Wild Duck Lake Wetland Park
Located in Yanqing District, close to Huailai County in Hebei Province, Wild Duck Lake Wetland is Beijing's first national wetland park and the city's most famous bird-watching destination. Ebird is the world's authoritative bird-watching research website, and the Wild Duck Lake wetland has long occupied the number of birds on the screen. More records show that one in five of China's bird species can be seen here.
From April to June, a large number of birds such as golden eagles, white-shouldered eagles, great bustards, white cranes, ring-necked pheasants, cormorants, and wild geese gather here. Friends who like birds can meet different bird "friends" in 14 scenic spots, such as the water platform, the heron flying platform, the lotus viewing area, the heron habitat and breeding area, the house of the birds, the wooden plank road, the ruins of the beacon tower, and the crane viewing platform.
Qinhuangdao - Pigeon Nest - Beidaihe Wetland Park
For friends who live in Beijing, the most convenient and familiar place to see the sea in summer is probably Beidaihe. In fact, since April, Qinhuangdao is the most convenient place around Beijing, and it is also the most convenient place to watch birds. In the process of north-south migration, Qinhuangdao is bordered by Yanshan Mountain in the north and the Bohai Sea in the south, coupled with a large area of forest vegetation, which has become the most important resting stop for migratory birds. Of the more than 1,300 species of birds that can be seen in Qinhuangdao, 450 species can be seen in China, accounting for 30% of the total number of birds in China.
The most familiar place for bird watching in Qinhuangdao should be regarded as Beidaihe Wetland Park, which is an important habitat for birds in the mainland. Beidaihe National Wetland Park, located in the central coastal area of Beidaihe, includes an ecological reserve, a forest oxygen bar and a wetland bird sanctuary. The bird sanctuary is an important migratory bird migration base and one of the four major birdwatching sites in the world. Common examples here include red-headed gulls, black-billed gulls, swallows, bald eagles, orioles, red-tailed robins, etc.
In addition, the Pigeon Nest Dachaoping Wetland is also the focus of bird watching. During the birding season from April to May, thousands of the world's rarest birds, including relict gulls and black-headed gulls, gather on the Pigeon Nest Dachaoping wetland.
With its beautiful birds and diverse living environment, these bird-watching destinations are sure to captivate everyone. International Bird Day is not only a day to remind us to protect birds and the ecological environment, but also a time for us to get close to nature and feel the beauty of nature. Let us cherish these beautiful moments, convey the concept of loving birds and protecting birds to more people, and jointly protect these flying elves and their beautiful homes!
TIPS: Bird watching tips
Before bird watching, please learn about the relevant knowledge and skills of bird watching so that you can better appreciate and protect the birds
Please be quiet, do not disturb the birds, and respect their natural habits.
Please follow the rules and protection measures of each bird watching site and work together to maintain the ecological environment and home of the birds
When bird watching, please pay attention to your own safety and avoid accidents.