China News Agency, Xiong'an, May 26th: "North China Pearl" Baiyangdian is waiting for the birds to "return home"
China News Agency reporter Cui Tao
Today's Baiyangdian Lake, with turbulent water and green reeds, is a water town scene with birds flying and fish leaping.
Known as the "Pearl of North China", Baiyangdian Lake is the largest wetland ecosystem in North China and an important resting place, breeding place and wintering place for migratory birds in China.
Since the establishment of Xiongan New Area, Baiyangdian has carried out the largest-scale systematic ecological management in history, and the ecological environment has been significantly improved. More and more wild birds choose to "settle down" here.
The picture shows birds in the Xiaoyi River Estuary Wetland in Xiongan New Area on August 26, 2021.
(Data map) Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Bing
The latest observation data show that the number of wild birds in Baiyangdian has recovered to 237, an increase of 31 species before the establishment of the Xiongan New Area; the number of fish has recovered to 44, and indigenous fish such as Chinese carp reappeared.
Talking about the remarkable increase in wild bird species in Baiyangdian in recent years, Qi Ming, a staff member of the Wetland Management Center of the Natural Resources Bureau of Anxin County, Xiong'an New District, who has observed birds here for 18 years, was filled with emotion.
"Every record of new bird species in Baiyangdian can reflect the improvement of Baiyangdian's ecological environment." Qi Ming said that wild birds are known as the "barometer" and "environmental assessor" of the local ecosystem.
The picture shows the scenery of Baiyang Lake in Xiong'an New District on October 1, 2021.
(UAV photo data map) Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Bing
According to Qi Ming, the habitat data of a variety of birds have changed significantly compared with before the establishment of the Xiongan New Area.
"Last year, we observed more than 2,000 ribbed ducks successfully overwintering in Baiyangdian. This is also the first time that the number of this bird species overwintering exceeds 1,000 after the establishment of the new area, and there is hope to start breeding activities in Baiyangdian." Qi Ming said.
In order to create a better habitat and reproduction environment for wild birds in Baiyangdian, Xiongan New Area actively promotes ecological restoration projects while strengthening the protection of water ecology and biodiversity, and carries out the ecological protection project of Tanghe Inlet Wetland. The ecological wetland restoration project of returning farmland to lake (Phase I) has restored a total area of 1,654 hectares of wetlands.
In addition, with the continuous deepening of publicity for protecting wild birds, the local people's awareness of bird love and bird protection in Xiongan has been significantly improved.
The picture shows the scenery of Baiyang Lake in Xiong'an New District on October 1, 2021.
(UAV photo data map) Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Bing
"I recently found a lot of bird eggs in the Xiaoyi River Estuary Wetland. These abandoned eggs have been taken care of, and now a few small anti-billed sandpipers and black-winged long-legged sandpipers have been born successfully." An, who calls himself "Uncle Bird" New County Love Bird volunteer Han Zhanqiao said.
In addition to increasing publicity efforts and popularizing laws and regulations, the local area continues to strengthen the inspection and rescue of wild birds, and crack down on related illegal and criminal acts.
Under the deployment of the Hebei Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau, multiple departments in the Xiongan New Area jointly carried out inspections and supervision. In 2021, the forestry and grassland departments alone dispatched more than 1,700 law enforcement personnel to rescue more than 170 wild animals.
According to the Planning and Construction Bureau of the Management Committee of Hebei Xiongan New Area, the new area has prepared a bird habitat restoration plan in Xiongan New Area, and the overall restoration arrangements for bird habitats in Baiyangdian Lake are carried out.
At the same time, the bird island project plan on the south side of Fanyu Lake was compiled, and the feasibility and implementation path of building a tidal flat bird island were studied; the conceptual planning of bird habitats in the middle of Baiyang Lake was formulated, and the central area of Baiyang Lake was planned in detail.
"At present, we are planning to carry out a comprehensive background survey on Baiyangdian Lake to find out the ecological environment level, biodiversity level, bird species, number and habitat distribution, clarify the goals of Baiyangdian wetland construction and protection work, and make an overall plan for the next step. Scientifically plan and plan to strengthen wetland protection and restoration, and continue to promote Baiyangdian protection, restoration and dynamic monitoring." said the relevant person in charge of the Planning and Construction Bureau of the Hebei Xiong'an New Area Management Committee.
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