Zhang Zhengwang: Why does this small Chinese city let migratory birds "return"?

Sanming, Fujian, 5 May (ZXS) -- Why does this small Chinese city allow migratory birds to "return"?

——Interview with Zhang Zhengwang, professor of Beijing Normal University and chairman of the Ornithology Branch of the Zoological Society of China

Written by Lei Chaoliang

Bird migration is one of the world's natural wonders. Each year, as the seasons change, migratory birds fly thousands of kilometres in search of habitats suitable for feeding, resting and rearing. Located in the mountainous northwest of Fujian, Mingxi County is a "small Chinese migratory bird travel town" located on the important migratory bird migration route between East Asia and Australasia.

Why does Mingxi County attract migratory birds to "return to Xi" and become an important stopping point for bird migration in eastern Asia? On the eve of the first World Migratory Bird Day (the second Saturday of May and October every year), Zhang Zhengwang, a professor at Beijing Normal University and chairman of the Ornithological Society of the Chinese Zoological Society, was interviewed by the China News Agency's "East-West Question" to interpret this in depth.

The following is a summary of the interview:

China News Agency: How many birds have been found in Mingxi so far?

Zhang Zhengwang: I have visited Mingxi County several times, and I am deeply impressed by the good ecological environment and rich bird resources. With the continuous strengthening of local wildlife protection and the continuous improvement of the ecological environment, the distribution records of wild birds in Mingxi have been continuously "refreshed".

Since the beginning of spring this year, Mingxi has welcomed flocks of migratory birds. According to the Mingxi National Wildlife Monitoring Station, the crested loon duck and the oriental plover were first spotted in the local area, both of which are protected birds of China's "three haves" (that is, beneficial, economically important and scientific research value). The national first-class key protected animal, the Oriental White Stork, has also "visited" Mingxi.

The yellow-bellied horned pheasant has achieved the reputation of Mingxi as "the hometown of China's yellow-bellied horned pheasant". The yellow-bellied horned pheasant is a national key protected animal, due to the extremely low natural reproduction rate and the rapid reduction of habitat, it is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), and is known as "bird giant panda". At present, there are more than 19 natural populations of 400 yellow-bellied horned pheasants in Mingxi, accounting for about 10% of the total number in the country.

According to the investigation and monitoring of the local reserve, there are 327 species of wild birds found and recorded in Mingxi so far, including mandarin ducks, snake eagles, white-legged falcons, yellow-bellied horned pheasants, white-fronted mountain partridges, white-necked long-tailed pheasants and other rare birds.

Green-winged ducks and mandarin ducks migrating in Mingxi County. Photo by Xiao Shuping

China News Agency: Why does Mingxi allow migratory birds to "return to Xi" and become an important stopping point for bird migration in eastern Asia?

Zhang Zhengwang: Mingxi is a typical "eight mountains, one water and one field" area, surrounded by mountains and overlapping peaks, with a forest coverage rate of 81.49%; The climate is mild, with abundant rainfall, less severe cold in winter, no scorching heat in summer, and plenty of sunshine. The superior natural environment provides good conditions for the growth and reproduction of animals and plants.

In particular, Mingxi has diverse ecosystems such as forests, shrublands, wetlands, and farmland, which can provide superior habitat conditions and abundant food resources for different types of migratory birds, coupled with the long-term love of birds and birds protection by local people, thus becoming an important habitat for bird migration in eastern Asia and an important breeding ground for summer migratory birds.

Every autumn and winter, a large number of migratory birds migrate here from the north to rest, forming a large number of bird groups, some of which stay to winter locally, while others continue to fly to warmer places such as South China, Southeast Asia, and Oceania after replenishing enough energy.

White-fronted geese migrating in Mingxi County. Photo by Xiao Shuping

China News Agency: What kind of bird migration route is the East Asia-Australasia bird migration route where Mingxi is located? What other bird migration routes are there around the world?

Zhang Zhengwang: The East Asia-Australasia migratory bird migration route where Mingxi is located is one of the nine major migratory bird migration routes in the world. This migration route runs from Australia and New Zealand in the south to high latitudes such as Siberia and Alaska in the north, passing through 22 countries and regions such as Russia and China. More than 210 species of birds travel to and from this migration route each year, totaling more than 5000 million.

In addition to the East Asia-Australasia migration route, there are eight other migratory bird migration routes around the world: the "Atlantic Migration Route" that spans the entire Atlantic Ocean connecting Western Europe, eastern North America and the Western Panhandle; the "Black Sea/Mediterranean Migration Line" connecting Eastern Europe and West Africa; the "West Asia-East Africa Migration Route" across the Indian Ocean and connecting West Asia and East Africa; the "Central Asian Migration Line" that crosses the entire Asian continent from south to north; the "America-Pacific Migration Route" running through the Pacific coast of North and South America; the Americas-Mississippi Migration Route throughout the central and western parts of North and South America; the Americas-Atlantic Line, which connects the entire eastern part of North and South America; Western Pacific Migration Line.

Among the nine major migratory bird migration routes in the world, there are four involving China, from east to west, namely the Western Pacific Migration Line, the East Asia-Australasia Migration Route, the Central Asian Migration Line, and the West Asia-East Africa Migration Route. Few countries involve so many migration routes, which shows that the vast territory of China is a necessary place for many birds to migrate, is an important habitat for migratory birds, and the protection of birds in China is closely related to the ecological security of global migratory birds.

Local villagers in Mingxi with egrets. Photo by Jiang Yuelan

China News Agency: At present, what is the current situation of bird life in the world? What has China done to protect birds? What successful experiences can countries around the world learn from?

Zhang Zhengwang: At present, there are more than 10,000 species of birds in the world, distributed on all continents, most of which are in good condition, but some birds are facing great challenges in survival.

According to IUCN, more than 1400,200 bird species are seriously threatened. For example, there are just over 600 Chinese crested terns, 4000 spoon-billed sandpipers, and just over 1970,30 white cranes. One study also showed that bird populations in North America have declined by nearly <> percent since <>.

The factors that lead to the endangerment of birds are mainly habitat destruction, illegal fishing, climate change, etc. caused by human activities. With increased urbanization, agricultural expansion and deforestation, some birds have lost habitat, breeding grounds and food resources. Habitat loss or degradation is the greatest threat to birds and other wildlife.

Some birds are threatened by illegal hunting. Many birds are hunted for ornamental, edible or medicinal purposes, leading to a decimation or even extinction.

Climate change also threatens bird survival, affecting bird habitats, food sources and breeding times. In the context of climate change, some habitats have become arid, hot or cold, making it difficult for birds to survive, especially for island birds and birds that breed in the high-latitude Arctic.

In addition, air and water pollution affects bird food sources, habitats, reproductive capacity and health, especially seabirds such as albatrosses, which are highly threatened by marine litter. Some alien species negatively affect birds by competing for food, occupying habitats, destroying birds' nests and preying on birds, such as the invasive species Alterniflora distributed over a large area along China's coast, which encroaches on wetland birds' feeding grounds.

Therefore, there is still a long way to go to strengthen the conservation of bird diversity around the world.

China has many rare bird resources and attaches great importance to bird protection. The Chinese government has issued a series of laws and regulations to protect the habitat and living environment of rare birds. At the same time, China has carried out many bird protection projects, including the construction of nature reserves with rare birds as important protection objects such as Zhalong in Heilongjiang, Laojunshan in Sichuan and Junzifeng in Fujian, launching major projects for ecological restoration of wildlife habitats, cracking down on illegal poaching of bird resources, and carrying out scientific research on the rejuvenation of endangered bird populations.

After hard work, the number of some rare birds in China has been restored, such as the crested ibis from 1981 in 7 to more than 7000,3000 now, the Oriental white stork from 5000,15000 thirty years ago to nearly <>,<> now, and the black-necked crane from <>,<> to more than <>,<> now. These have become successful cases of bird conservation in the world and provided Chinese experience for the conservation of global bird diversity.

Countries around the world have also achieved many successful experiences in bird conservation. For example, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Protection Act in the United States have established a sound legal system for bird protection; Some cities in Japan have set up artificial nest boxes to promote birds to nest and breed in cities, and planted plants suitable for bird life in parks and green spaces; The UK conducts bird surveys and monitoring, implements strict control measures for hunting, and promotes various bird protection awareness education activities; Australia has set up a special bird sanctuary, using remote sensing technology to monitor changes in bird habitats, and using genetic testing technology to conduct genetic monitoring of bird populations.

Local organizations organize various forms of bird love and bird protection publicity activities. Photo by Xiao Shuping

China News Agency: As a "paradise for birds", Mingxi has emerged bird-watching tours in recent years, driving local development. What does this tell us about protecting biodiversity? How can humans work together to love birds and protect birds, and promote biodiversity conservation?

Zhang Zhengwang: A good ecological environment has built a "paradise for birds", making Mingxi one of the important bird-watching bases in China, attracting tourists from home and abroad to come to watch birds. Relying on ecological resources, the local area actively develops the ecological bird-watching tourism industry, launches the brand of "bird-watching and free", and promotes the development of tourism and the revitalization of rural areas.

In Junfeng Temple in Mingxi County, birdwatchers are looking forward to "encounters" with birds. Photo by Zhan Tiedi

The practice of Mingxi fully shows that "green mountains and green water are priceless treasures", and sustainable and healthy regional economic and social development is inseparable from biodiversity conservation.

Birds are an important part of biodiversity, and strengthening the protection of birds and their habitats will make important contributions to global biodiversity conservation. Bird protection requires the joint efforts and joint protection of all mankind. In particular, migratory birds need to pass through many countries and regions every year, and only by cooperating and working together to protect each habitat can they ensure their "return".

Respondent Profile:

Zhang Zhengwang, professor and doctoral supervisor of Beijing Normal University, is currently the chairman of the Ornithology Branch of the Zoological Society of China, a member of the International Federation of Ornithologists, a vice president of the World Pheasant Association, a member of the IUCN Pheasant Expert Group and the Crane Expert Group, a corresponding member of the North American Ornithological Society (Fellow), the chairman of the Beijing Zoological Society, etc., and serves as the deputy editor of Avian Research and the editorial board of journals such as Acta Ecology Sinica, Wetland Science, and Journal of Wildlife. He has been engaged in ecology teaching and ornithology research for a long time, and his main research areas are molecular evolution and conservation biology research of endangered birds, population dynamics and ecological adaptation of wetland birds, bird reproductive biology and behavioral ecology, etc., and has carried out scientific investigations in Antarctica and the Arctic for many times. He has edited or participated in the compilation of books such as "Chinese Forest Birds", "Chinese Bird Charts", "Classification and Distribution Directory of Chinese Birds", and published more than 200 papers at home and abroad.