Tianshan Network News (reporter Cao Hua reported) reporters learned from the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Bohu County of Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture on April 20 that recently, when the investigation team composed of scientific researchers carried out biodiversity surveys on Bosten Lake, 11 new species of birds were found, refreshing the bird record of Bosten Lake.
According to Chai Yongbin, executive director of the Wetland Survey Office and leader of the survey team of the Desert Engineering Survey and Design Institute of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the biodiversity survey of Bosten Lake was launched in April last year, and a total of 6 biodiversity surveys were carried out in Bosten Lake in the past year, and 11 species of birds were newly discovered: white-tailed ground crow, purple-horned bunting (dōng), iron clawed bunting (wú), tree sparrow, brown-tailed Burrow, Li's wren (liù), black-fronted burrow, short-toed eagle, lark, spotted owl, and yellow wagtail (jí líng). The species of birds found in Lake Bosten has further increased.
Investigators conduct biodiversity surveys on Bosten Lake. Provided by the Institute of Desert Engineering Survey and Design, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Bosten Lake is the largest inland freshwater lake in China, with a water area of 1646 square kilometers, which is one of the important habitats for wild birds in China and an important transit point for migratory birds. Previous surveys have shown that 198 species of birds have been found in Lake Bosten.
"The white-tailed ground crow was first discovered in Bosten Lake, and after the investigators took the photos, they couldn't even believe it, because the white-tailed ground crow is the only endemic bird in Xinjiang, and its number is very rare, mainly distributed in the desert area of the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, and has never appeared in Bosten Lake." Chai Yongbin introduced that after further tracking, the investigation team found a suitable environment for the survival of white-tailed crows in the Gobi Desert not far from Bosten Lake, and found 8 white-tailed crow populations.
Investigators conduct biodiversity surveys on Bosten Lake. Provided by the Institute of Desert Engineering Survey and Design, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences
"The 11 newly discovered species of birds are not 'lost birds', and the presence of a population in Bosten Lake indicates that these birds live in Bosten Lake." Chai Yongbin analyzed that there are two possibilities for newly discovered birds, one is that they existed before, but they were not discovered. Second, the original did not, with the expansion of the water area of Bosten Lake and the improvement of the ecological environment, new birds have come. As for which case, we need to conduct in-depth investigation and analysis, but in any case, the newly discovered birds will further enrich the bird record of Bosten Lake and provide support for future biodiversity research and conservation.
Chai Yongbin said that Bosten Lake is inhabited by a large number of birds, the number is beyond imagination, such as cormorants, egrets, etc., especially the number of water birds such as geese and ducks is very large. The vast water surface, abundant aquatic plants and fish all provide a good environment for birds to inhabit. The overall ecosystem of Bosten Lake has maintained benign stability, and the wetland protection mechanism has been put in place, which provides support for the good ecology of Bosten Lake.
The white-tailed crow first spotted by investigators at Bosten Lake. Provided by the Institute of Desert Engineering Survey and Design, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Liu Xingchun, director of the Management Station of Bosten Lake National Wetland Park, introduced that in recent years, Bohu County has increased the protection of the ecological environment of Bosten Lake, and through the implementation of a series of protection measures such as wetland protection and restoration projects, artificial reeds and returning farmland to forests and grasslands, the ecological environment of Bosten Lake has been continuously improved, and it has become an ideal home for birds to stay, forage and breed during migration.