Zhu Nuan Road on the banks of the Qingshui River in Miyun has recently welcomed a wave of photography enthusiasts, who are looking for a rare bird - the ibis-billed sandpiper. Hearing this news, photography enthusiast Liu Jianzhong immediately drove to see the true appearance of this bird that is known as the most beautiful bird in the family Plover family.
At about 1:30 p.m., Liu Jianzhong had just arrived near the Miyun Qingshui River Bridge when he saw several bird friends holding SLRs walking through the wild grass along the river in search of them.
"It is said that someone photographed it in the morning, and it was one, and it flew away in a short while, and it has not yet appeared!" A bird friend said softly to Liu Jianzhong.
Within a few minutes, accompanied by a sharp "strange" cry, a large bird almost pebble-colored landed in the river, "click, click..." The shutter sound came and went, and Liu Jianzhong realized: Yes, it is it!
This large bird is about 40 cm long, the feathers are gray, black and white, a black and white horizontal band separates the gray upper chest from the white lower part, and the red curved beak and eyes are particularly transparent and unique in the presence of light.
I saw its feet stuck in the shallow water covered with pebbles and stood still. "Tap everyone!" A bird friend whispered that the bird was alert, motionless when it encountered a special sound, and then foraged when there was no danger. It can't see what it eats, but may eat some small fish, shrimp, and mollusks.
"How about one, shouldn't it be a migratory bird left behind?" Liu Jianzhong and several other bird friends are a little worried, "It is said that it often lives at high altitudes, and it is still difficult to see in Beijing." A bird friend responded.
In this regard, Guo Geng, a researcher at the Beijing Elk Ecological Experiment Center, said that the ibis-billed sandpiper is a resident bird in Beijing, which is found in the shoals and streams in the mountainous areas of Beijing. Fangshan Juma River and Miyun Qingshui River were also found before scenic spots such as Yanqing Baihe Gorge were not developed.
"Because it has only sporadic records in Beijing, it is not an exaggeration to say that this bird is rare." Its narrow distribution, coupled with its protective color similar to pebbles, is rare for laymen. ”
Guo Geng said that the ibis-billed sandpiper has very high environmental requirements and is an ecological indicative bird species, which must be clear and biological streams, otherwise it is difficult to survive. As the ecological environment on the outskirts of Beijing is getting better and better, and the water quality is getting clearer, the ibis-billed sandpiper has appeared.
Why only see alone? Li Li, director of the China Wildlife Conservation Association, introduced that "unsociable" is the life habit of the sandpiper.
"They like to go alone and eat their own food. In addition, he likes to drill around and hide in the dense forest, so it is more mysterious. Li Li said that according to the observation of the wild protection team, there are three or four in the Qingshui River.
Photo: Liu Jianzhong