Photo: Guo Geng
The Partridge, known in ancient times as "wild ducks, duck-like and small", are some small duck-like water birds that are distributed almost all over the world.
There are 5 species of partridges in China, namely the small partridge, crested ibis, black-necked ibis, red-necked partridge, and horned ibis.
The latter two species of partridge are national second-level protected animals. In 2018, a horned partridge flew from the surface of the second phase of Nanhaizi Park in Beijing, which attracted the attention of bird friends. Many friends went to the second phase of Nanhaizi to see its honor.
At the local government work summary meeting, I heard that Director Liang of the Management Committee of the Development Zone also wrote the presence of this bird into the report as a representative of ecological environment improvement.
From the beginning of this year to the present period, the crested ibises are more prominent in Nanhaizi. Crested ibis, commonly known as Zhang Ba Dog or Water Old Eagle, is a 50 cm long partridge with an elegant appearance.
Crested ibises have a slender neck with a pronounced dark crown, a nearly white lower body, and a pure gray-brown upper body. During the breeding season, adult birds have a chestnut neck and a mane-like feather.
Crested ibises feed mainly on fish. The dance between male and female courtship is very ritualistic and comedic. Naturally, this also attracts many friends to come and see its style.
When the courtship period is over, they have to have children. Newborn chicks have black and white stripes that resemble small zebras. Some newly born chicks also rely on their parents to swim on the surface of the water on their backs.
In addition to crested ibises, the little ibises can also be seen in Nanhaizi. In fact, in China, crested water birds and small birds are not uncommon, but the names appear strange, can not be recognized, it is difficult to write.
When they see the word "partridge", many people will not recognize it, and even complain about how ornithologists gave them such a strange name.
In fact, the name of the partridge has existed since ancient times, and ornithologists have only faithfully passed it on and continued. The only thing to blame is that you don't go bird watching.
Therefore, I often say: Look, the result of not going to bird watching is that you can't even read words.
In Chinese Tang poems, there are many verses describing 䴙䴘. In order to spread traditional culture, I wrote a book called "300 Tang Poems in Bird Language" a few years ago, and now I excerpt 3 of them and the commentary I wrote.
Degree break Nesha
Zhang Hu
The goose is flying,
The First Return of the Battle at Partridge Springs.
Tomorrow out of the southeast,
Full of cold light pig iron coat.
Commentary:
As a side poem, it was originally mostly jingo iron horses and desert rivers, but here the geese flew on their heads, and the partridge springs back, adding a little life to the iron-blooded battlefield.
Ancient words
Guardian Elephant
Magpie blood carved bow wet and undried,
The Partridge's newly dyed sword is cold.
Liaodong veteran sideburns into snow,
Look at the head of the night.
Fighting wars and hunting, one is that the time is different, wartime and peacetime; the other is that the objects are different, killing people and killing animals; but both are also killing. Here, the weapons are stained with bird blood, it seems that there has been no war for a long time, but the veteran, although white-headed, is still waiting for him.
Kameyama Temple evening view
Zhang Bin
The lake on all sides is not far away,
When the partridge flies at twilight.
Fishing boats do not need to hang sail mats,
Return to the wind and plant willow branches.
The partridge is a bald-tailed waterbird that can fly, swim and dive, and is infested near fishing boats, appearing to have a leisurely and peaceful living environment. It is not necessary to return so urgently, insert willows instead of drum sails, and swim leisurely.
About the author
As a popular science writer, since 1994, he has been working tirelessly for twenty years, and has published more than 20 animal protection works, engaged in Sino-US cooperation in the field investigation of the "Green-tailed Rainbow Pheasant Breeding Research", won the "Second Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress of the Ministry of Forestry", and won the "Earth Award" and "National Advanced Individual in Ecological Moral Education for Minors" and other awards.