(New Year's news) "Dad Swan" on the banks of the Yellow River: Stay together for 19 years and send back north
China News Service, Yuncheng, Shanxi, February 15th, title: "Daddy Swan" on the banks of the Yellow River: staying together for 19 years and returning home in spring
Author Yang Peipei
On the 15th, the fourth day of the first month of the lunar calendar, 65-year-old He Jianxi still stood by the Yellow River in the Sanwan Wetland of the Yellow River in Pinglu, Yuncheng, Shanxi. This was the 19th Spring Festival he accompanied the Whooper Swan.
To He Jianxi, the whooper swan flew thousands of kilometers south from Siberia to winter here is like a child returning home for the New Year.
He Jianxi is a villager in Sanwan, Pinglu County and a ranger of the Yellow River Wetland.
Photo by Yang Peipei
He Jianxi is a villager in Sanwan, Pinglu County and a ranger of the Yellow River Wetland.
The Pinglu Yellow River Wetland, which covers an area of more than 6000 hectares, is located at the junction of Shanxi and Henan provinces. It has a mild climate and abundant feed, making it one of the main habitats for whooper swans overwinter.
Every year from the end of October to the beginning of November, whooper swans fly here from Siberia and other places to overwinter, and return north in March the following year.
In 2012, Pinglu was awarded the title of "Hometown of Whooper Swans in China" by the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
On the fourth day of the first lunar month, thousands of whooper swans were swimming in the water, frolicking, or bending their necks to trim their feathers, or fluttering their wings.
Seeing the relaxed whooper swan, He Jianxi's face is always smiling.
"For so many years, the whooper swans have accompanied me from dozens to tens of thousands now."
At 7 o'clock every day, He Jianxi left home and went to the Yellow River Sanwan Wetland to prepare breakfast for the whooper swan.
He walked into the foraging area carrying a bag of corn kernels, and whistled towards the water.
As soon as the whistle sounded, whooper swans came to the shore in groups and gathered around He Jianxi.
He Jianxi walked into the foraging area carrying a bag of corn kernels, and whistled towards the water.
Photo by Yang Peipei
He Jianxi has been guarding Whooper Swan since 2002.
Speaking of feeding whooper swan for the first time, he still remembered fresh.
"In the beginning, the whooper swans were vigilant and unwilling to accept my feeding. I stayed with them from morning to night every day. After a long time, they began to approach me."
He Jianxi introduced that before the whooper swans arrive, prepare enough food to ensure that they can survive the winter safely until they return north.
At the same time, the local government allocated special funds for swan protection to guide farmers to plant winter wheat, soybeans and other crops to enrich the food sources of swan overwintering.
In addition to feeding, He Jianxi also patrols a dozen kilometers along the river bank every day.
In case of freezing on the snowy lake, he needs to take a bamboo pole to break the ice himself so that the whooper swan can go ashore for food.
"Every Spring Festival holiday, there is an endless stream of people who come to watch and photograph the white swans. I will step up patrols to avoid harm to the whooper swans."
As soon as the whistle sounded, whooper swans came to the shore in groups and gathered around He Jianxi.
Photo by Yang Peipei
Every year, early March is the day when the whooper swans leave. They gather in teams and fly away in batches, or more than 100 or more than a thousand.
At this time, He Jianxi would watch them set off until the last whooper swan flew away.
He Jianxi said frankly that although he was mentally prepared when they left, he would still be reluctant.
Talking about his expectations for the future, He Jianxi expressed that he hopes that there will be a big swan to accompany each Spring Festival.
Wait for them to fly safely from Siberia, take care of them, and then send them home safely.
(Finish)