China News Service, Harbin, March 28 (Wang Guangxin, reporter Wang Nina) Since March this year, the Heilongjiang Naolihe National Nature Reserve Administration and the Wildlife Research Institute of the Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry Sciences have combined unmanned monitoring on the basis of traditional manual monitoring. Using technologies such as machines, thermal imaging and AI artificial intelligence, we carried out field monitoring of spring migratory birds. There were nearly 3,000 rare and endangered birds like storks and cranes, which was the largest number observed during the same period in recent years.
A flock of migratory birds has flown to the reserve. Photo by Wang Hongjiang
Naolihe Nature Reserve is located in the hinterland of the Sanjiang Plain. In 2023, it was included in the first batch of important habitats for terrestrial wildlife in the country. From the perspective of geographical location and ecological environment, it is the key distribution site of rare and endangered birds of the crane and stork type in the Sanjiang Plain area. area.
Since March this year, Heilongjiang Naolihe National Nature Reserve (hereinafter referred to as "Naolihe Reserve") has continued to carry out spring migratory bird monitoring work, and observed dozens of golden eagles, white-tailed sea eagles, herons, geese and ducks, etc. Thousands of migratory birds have arrived in the reserve one after another, including more than 200 red-crowned cranes, more than 400 Oriental white storks, and more than 2,000 white-naped cranes. Currently, more than 100 Oriental white stork artificial nests account for 30% of the nests.
The reserve combines technologies such as drones, thermal imaging, and AI to carry out field monitoring of spring migratory birds. Photo by Cui Xingbo
Liang Yuxiang, head of the Scientific Research Section of the Wildlife Research Institute of the Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry Sciences, said: “One of the reasons why this year’s observation data has increased significantly compared with previous years is that Naolihe Nature Reserve has made active efforts in protecting migratory birds in recent years. The application of new observation technologies such as man-machine and thermal imaging has also greatly improved monitoring capabilities. Next, the reserve will combine AI artificial intelligence recognition technology to continue to carry out AI algorithm training, model training and species classification work."
Migratory birds roost on the ice. Photo by Wang Hongjiang
In recent years, Naolihe Nature Reserve has continuously explored the application of high-tech, high-efficiency, high-quality new productivity technologies such as satellite remote sensing, big data, remote monitoring, drones, and multi-rotor aerodynamic boats in ecological environment and biodiversity protection. Demonstration application in the field, through continuous interpretation of satellite remote sensing images, combined with more than 100 remote monitoring points, drones, multi-habitation aerodynamic ships and big data platforms to jointly build an "air, space and ground" integrated intelligent management system to effectively curb illegal activities violations, improve the scope and capabilities of patrol management, and greatly improve the effectiveness of biodiversity protection and monitoring. (over)