Source: China News Network
Hulunbuir, March 4 (Zhang Wei Baishicheng) On the 4th, the reporter learned from the Inner Mongolia Forest Industry Group that a few days ago, wildlife monitors photographed the population of heiqin chickens, a national key protected bird at the Erguna National Nature Reserve.
The picture shows the black lyre chicken searching for grain lost in the field in the snow. Photo by Zhai Peng
The black grouse is a mountain forest bird that inhabits pine, birch and mixed forests near open land, and feeds mainly on young branches, leaves, roots, seeds, etc., and also eats insects. In 2016, the black lyre was added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Due to the scarcity of the population, in February 2021, China's State Forestry and Grassland Administration adjusted the black grouse from a national second-level wild protected animal to a national first-class wild protected animal.
The picture shows flocks of black grouse perched on the treetops. Photo by Qiu Lei
According to the source, wildlife monitors have taken pictures of the foraging activities of black harp chickens. From the picture, on several birch trees, flocks of black lyre chickens perch on the treetops, sometimes chirping, sometimes flying, sometimes foraging, sometimes looking, after confirming that there is no danger around, flying from the treetops to the ground.
In the snow-covered farmland, the male black grouse is particularly striking with black-brown feathers, while the female black lyre is slightly smaller and has a tan body. They use their claws to cut through the snow and look for food lost in the fields.
Zhou Ming, director of the Wildlife Research Institute of Inner Mongolia Erguna National Nature Reserve Management Bureau Co., Ltd., said: "From last winter to this year, the forest area was snowy and the black lyre chickens faced famine, and they often flocked to the crop fields to collect wheat grains or grains lost by farmers and shaved to fill their hunger. ”
"Birds of prey, sables, weasels, etc. are their natural enemies, and they often move in groups to prevent infestation, but such a large population of black grouse is very rare in forest areas." Zhou Ming said. (End)