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Production/Chang Caoyu Geng Hongwei
Overview of news reporter Lu Ruoxi
April in the Hutuo River belongs to the first batch of Yasha swallows to return.
In order to welcome this special group of "guests", Xing Shijie, a volunteer for wildlife conservation in Shijiazhuang, began to renovate the cliff wall and repair the fence as early as early March. Sure enough, just after April, groups of Yasha swallows rushed back from Southeast Asia "with their families".
On the sand island near the Hutuo River Traffic Bridge on County Road 054 in Zhengding County, it is full of dense nests of cliff sand swallows. Photo by the child who released the insurance
"They're here early this year, you see, now there are tens of thousands. On the morning of April 17, the reporter followed Xing Shijie to the sand island near the Hutuo River Traffic Bridge on County Road 054 in Zhengding County. I saw that the cliff wall about 7 meters high was densely covered with fist-sized caves, and the cliff sand swallows that went out to forage and return to their nests came and went, and it was very lively. Sometimes they swoop in the air and fly accurately into the hole, and sometimes they flap their wings and shoot high into the air like arrows, attracting passers-by to stop and watch, and many people pick up their mobile phones to capture the silhouette of the cliff swallow.
In order to photograph the cliff sand swallow at sunrise, photography enthusiast Zhang Hao rushed here early in the morning. "It's not often that there are so many and so shocking sand swallows on the edge of the city. It's beautiful, it's shocking. Zhang Hao was amazed while showing the reporter the photos on his mobile phone.
"Judging from the appearance and song, there is no obvious difference between the sand swallow and the house swallow, both have short and flat beaks and gray-brown feathers on their backs. The biggest difference is that the sand swallow likes to dig holes into the cliff face of sandy cliffs near rivers or lakes. As the sun rises, more and more tourists come to watch the swallows, and Xing Shijie, who has been guarding the sand swallows for many years, plays the role of "commentator": "The sand swallows are ecological, scientific and social values of the 'three haves' protected animals, specializing in preying on insects flying in the air, especially good at catching mosquitoes, flies, flies, ants, etc. at low altitudes on the ground and water surface. The depth of the nest is mostly between 50 cm and 130 cm. They usually return in April, lay eggs and hatch in May, and migrate south after September......"
崖沙燕在滹沱河畔筑巢。 解保童摄
When migratory birds return in spring, why do Yasha swallows prefer the Hutuo River?
"I think it's our 'landlord' who does it well. Xing Shijie said with a smile that the habitat requirements of the sand swallow are very demanding: the soil viscosity is moderate to ensure that the swallows can be chiseled and will not collapse; the cliff wall is steep enough, preferably 90 degrees vertical, to avoid the approach of weasels, wild cats and other animals; and there is a water source within 500 meters to provide them with food sources such as mosquitoes and flies. The steep sand dunes along the Hutuo River meet all the soil and water requirements of the Sand Swallow.
"It's a great place for them to nest. Xing Shijie recalls that in the spring of 2017, he stumbled upon a number of sand swallows settling down the banks of the Hutuo River. Since then, he has traveled here every year in the spring to visit these "old friends".
On April 15, on the east side of the Hutuo River Traffic Bridge on County Road 054 in Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, a group of cliff sand swallows flew around the sand island. Photo by Hebei Daily correspondent Zhang Haiqiang
However, that all changed in 2021. One day in April of that year, when Xing Shijie visited Yashayan, he found that the small sand dunes that were originally scattered on the banks of the Hutuo River were blocked by fences. After careful inquiry, I learned that according to the plan, the Hutuo River Traffic Bridge Project on County Road 054 in Zhengding County happened to pass above the sand island, and the sand island was at risk of being shoveled.
"What about these sand swallows? Will they have a 'home' to return to next spring?" Xing Shijie was very worried, and he contacted the construction company and learned that they were also worried about this matter. "At that time, the relevant departments paid special attention to it and invited us to attend many on-site meetings. After much discussion, it was finally decided to keep the sand island and protect the birds. ”
In this way, a 500-meter-long bridge across the river was moved 40 meters to the west, and the construction period was delayed by two months, leaving a quiet and peaceful living space for these "elves" on the cliff face.
Not only that, this sand island the size of half a football field has also become the "exclusive home" of the sand swallows. The Shijiazhuang Hutuo River Ecological Engineering Operation and Maintenance Service Center specially erected fixed warning signs, pulled up fences, and arranged staff to patrol regularly during the return of the sand swallows to the nest to act as "personal bodyguards".
"Birds have always been the smartest, and they prefer good mountains and good waters. More than 30,000 sand swallows returned last year, and more are expected this year. Wang Chen, chief of the third maintenance section of the Shijiazhuang Hutuo River Ecological Engineering Operation and Maintenance Service Center, said with emotion: "We plan to build 5 bird islands and 11 bird habitats along the Hutuo River, and look forward to more Yasha Yan's coming to settle here." ”