Look at the hornbill that spreads its wings and flies out, like a cry to wake up the forest

Stork-billed jade Song Wei Tang Hisran painting

Hornbills are rare birds, large and spiritual, with gorgeous wings, hidden in dense forests and tall trees, which are sought after by many bird lovers. Such a natural spirit that can test the quality of the ecological environment has become the content of Zhang Qingguo's new work of documentary literature. What kind of enlightenment does this beautifully printed "Hornbill Revelation" (published by Yunnan People's Publishing House in January 2021) bring us? Is it a popular science text about hornbills, is it a story of people and animals, or is it a tribute to people's protection of the natural ecology?

The author said: "In the alpine primeval forest of Yingjiang County on the border between China and Myanmar, many birds live in it, and the internationally popular bird watching game has entered China and also entered the deep mountains of western Yunnan, the relationship between people and birds has undergone major changes, birds have improved the lives of many alpine residents, and people are full of gratitude for birds." "This may have been the original intention of writing this book. A novelist, because of his encounter with the rare birds of nature, has seen the mystery and richness of the southwest frontier forest kingdom, especially the reproduction and growth of various rare animal populations, seen the natural ecology nourishing the grace of human beings, and also seen the immersion of the concept of modern civilization. Treat nature well, live in harmony, let the natural ecology return to its original appearance, feed back to mankind, benefit from it, and become a conscious action of people in nature reserves. Zhang Qingguo walked the dense forest of the border village many times, went deep into the scene, collected stories, excavated details, and completed this work.

This is a book of nature. Located on the border between China and Myanmar, the original rainforest is inaccessible, with rich and mysterious species advantages and ecological landscapes. There are more than 9,000 species of birds in the world, about 1,300 species in China, 800 species in Yunnan, and more than 500 species in Yingjiang County. The "protagonist" of this book, the hornbill, has gradually entered people's attention in the past two or three years in Yingjiang. It got its name because its beak crown resembles the shape of a rhinoceros's head. It is "a lifelong companion of male and female, a loyal bird of love". There are only a few countries and regions in the world, and there are only three species of hornbills found in Yingjiang Shiti Village and Dagudi in China. They are mostly hidden in trees more than 30 meters high, because of their small numbers, bright wings, and when they are infested, they are considered to be the spirit monsters among birds. "Hornbills have broad wings, thick beaks, bright and complex colors... In the vast forest of the reckless sky, a hornbill with a mixture of red and white spread its wings and flew out, like a cry, immediately waking up the forest. "The appearance of this sense of ceremony is extraordinary, which is both a testament to the improvement of the natural ecology and a passion for the hornbill. The writer found that Yingjiang's protection of natural ecology stems from the worship of nature by ethnic minority compatriots. Several beautiful and rare big birds have arrived, bringing changes and challenges to the silent village, and the villagers have gradually realized the significance of protecting nature and protecting ecology, and loving birds and protecting birds has become conscious.

In the remote border area of Yingjiang, the mountains are densely forested and the land is thin, and in the past, people here mostly cut down trees to hunt for a living. Nowadays, the old habit of hunting has become conscious protection, and ecological awareness has been raised. In Yingjiang, in the past, fruit trees were planted to keep a net against birds, but now they are all removed. The book describes how environmentalists such as Xiao Ban, retired teacher Lao He, Lisu women Cai Si, Xiao Cai Five Brothers with brilliant minds, and Xiao Le, a post-90s college student Xiao Le couple, treat birds well, integrate into nature, and open up a new world in life. Therefore, this book pays attention to the harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and is permeated with humanistic thinking.

With the discovery of rare birds, Yingjiang's reputation has soared, and birdwatchers have flocked to look for business opportunities and start a "bird business" to form a combination of ecological protection and development tourism. The ornamental protection of rare birds and the harmonious alliance between man and nature have driven underdeveloped areas to get rid of poverty and become rich. The author enthusiastically praises the social progress brought about by ecological protection and the ecological dividends brought to poor villages. At the same time, it is also recognized that the contradiction between a large number of human activities and ecological development is prominent, and protection is more important than utilization. How to make use of ecological advantages and enhance the humanistic spirit is a new topic. The author bluntly said: "Poverty must change, and poverty alleviation is very important. However, poverty alleviation requires patience and methods, not to send money and then walk away. Poverty alleviation is a kind of civilization shaping, but also the input of life wisdom. The change it wants to bring is not only that the poor have money in their pockets, but also that stupidity becomes smart, laziness becomes competent, and confusion becomes a small goal in life. ”

The tone of Zhang Qingguo's narration is beautiful and timeless, with the story of prose culture, the readability of the chronicle writing scene, and the poetic language, imitating natural things and birds, and there is no lack of vivid and solid character stories, and the text follows the perspective of the interviewer, step by step, vivid and vivid. Regional customs, bird knowledge, and humanistic customs are interrelated, and the combination of documentary and historical facts, present and past, expands the connotation of the theme. For example, the book compares Chinese and foreign bird watching cultures, humanistic feelings about ecological nature, and knowledge about the life and death of rare birds. Zhang Qingguo's excellence as a novelist's chronicler, writer, and painting scenes can be seen in the text. At the end, in order to see the hornbills, the writer visits the bird watching shed. The torrential rain is like a note, a group of "bird powder" crouched and looked out, waiting in the rain for hours, anxious, doubtful, expectant, and finally loving and kind, mixed with tastes, written quietly, moving. Excerpted here, we can see one of the writer's splendid words:

A pair of hornbills in the sky outside the window, both flying back, two large wings, waving vigorously in the rain. One stops on a branch, and the other stops at a protruding tree node of four trees. ...... The hornbilly fell to the bulging tree knot and stood firm, tilting its big head and looking in my direction. Suddenly, a great joy rose in my heart. Is it greeting me, or is it casting a skeptical look at me? I hope that they will remain suspicious and vigilant about the world, so that they can be safe for a long time, and the little hornbills in the tree hole can get out of the nest safely, and the family of three hornbills can safely fly back into the depths of the forest and join their flocks of hornbills.

(Author: Wang Bisheng, former deputy director of the Literature and Art Department of People's Daily)