China News Service, Zhuhai, September 19 (Cheng Jingwei Linyin) Guangdong Forestry Bureau joined Zhuhai Natural Resources Monitoring Center, Zhuhai Bird Watching Association, Shenzhen Bird Watching Association, Guangzhou Natural Observation Association and other units on the 19th in Zhuhai Jointly launched the simultaneous investigation project of rare waterbirds such as yellow-billed egrets, and held special lectures on bird watching, and a forum on the conservation of birds in the Greater Bay Area. Nearly 50 people from universities, associations, and non-governmental organizations participated in the activities.
Guangdong is a major wetland province in the country, with abundant coastal wetlands and various natural environments suitable for bird habitat.
Guangdong is located in the East Asia-Australia migratory bird migration area. It is an important station for migratory bird migration. There are many internationally important bird areas. A large number of migratory birds pass through Guangdong during the spring and autumn migration seasons every year.
The reporter learned from the Guangdong Forestry Bureau that among the 555 species of wild birds in the province, there are 150 species of resident birds, 128 species of compound birds and 277 species of migratory birds.
The yellow-billed egret is a national second-class protected animal (data map) photo by Zhang Fuqing
The yellow-billed egret is the most protected species of egrets in the pelicans, heronidae, and has been included in the “World Conservation Union’s Red List of Endangered Species” (IUCN) as the VU protection level. It is a national Secondary protected animals.
According to experts from the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Bureau, there are currently about 2,500 to 10,000 yellow-billed egrets in the world, and 500 to 1,000 in China. Among them, less than 100 in Guangdong Province are mainly distributed in the southeast coastal areas of China. The numbers are scarce and not easy to see.
The yellow-billed egret has high requirements on the habitat and is an important indicator to measure the ecological environment of a region.
This project is to find out the distribution of rare waterbirds such as yellow-billed egrets, and at the same time carry out patrol and monitoring on migratory bird migration routes, use scientific and systematic methods to record the migration data of migratory birds in important wetlands in Guangdong, and provide protection for migratory birds in the Guangdong region Trusted data support.
Among them, the simultaneous monitoring of yellow-billed egrets will continue from October this year to the end of April 2021. During this period, Guangdong will organize members of bird watching associations, bird watching enthusiasts, and bird lovers in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Yangjiang, Zhanjiang and other places. In order to grasp the habits and quantity of the yellow-billed egrets on the migration routes of Shenzhen Bay, the Pearl River Estuary, and the coastal wetlands of western Guangdong.
While simultaneously observing, all members will also actively participate in wildlife (migratory birds) field patrols, assist in protection law enforcement, provide information trends, public education, community co-management, etc., to promote bird protection.
The peak of migratory bird migration in autumn and winter is coming soon. The Guangdong Forestry Bureau recently issued a notice requesting all localities to conduct in-depth and concentrated combat against wildlife-related crimes and actively carry out publicity and guidance. In the near future, the bureau will organize a unified special law enforcement inspection for wildlife protection across the province, adopt dragnet-style and carpet-style cleaning and remediation inspections, and severely investigate and deal with cases of damaging wildlife resources. (Finish)