Recently, three species of migrant birds—white crane, glossy ibis, and oriental white stork—were captured in the same picture by Chinese photographer Liu Xiaoying in Shanwei, Guangdong Province. According to Liu, there were more than 100 oriental white storks on the same day.
"It's incredible to photograph three different rare migratory birds in the same place and at the same time!" Liu said in surprise. In the picture, three white cranes and several oriental white storks are resting in the reeds. Then, the white cranes fly gracefully. On the other side, there is a glossy ibis standing in the stream, with its pink back feathers hazy in the distance.
A family of three white cranes and several oriental white storks. (Photo: Liu Xiaoying)
The white crane, glossy ibis, and oriental white stork are all national first-class protected wild animals in China, and and the white crane has been recorded in Shanwei for the first time.
Liu Yang, a professor at the School of Ecology of Sun Yat-sen University, said that the number of oriental white storks recently captured by photographers in Shanwei’s Dongshan Village has reached nearly 200, accounting for two percent of its global population. The global number of oriental white storks is less than 10,000. According to international standards, if one percent of the number of individuals of a bird species appears in a wetland, then the wetland has important conservation value.
"The three species turned up in the wetland area from Gaoluo Village, Haifeng County, Shanwei City to Dongshan Village, Tanxi Town, Lufeng City. This wetland area is precious. We hope to establish this place as a protected area so that more migratory birds can survive the winter," said Huang Zhen, a volunteer with the China Wildlife Conservation Association.
The wetland has also recently welcomed a variety of rare migratory birds such as black-faced spoonbills, white spoonbills, greater white-fronted, and young swans, attracting photographers and bird-watchers from all over the country.
Glossy ibis and oriental white storks. (Photo: Liu Xiaoying)
Dongshan Village Wetland is the breeding ground of the purple swamphen, a national second-class protected wild animal in China. (Photo: Huang Zhen)
At present, 258 bird species have been recorded in Shanwei. In the future, the city plans to implement new measures to effectively protect the safety of migratory birds and wildlife species.
Glossy ibis in flight. (Photo: Liu Xiaoying)
A family of three white cranes. (Photo: Liu Xiaoying)
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Reporter | Ariel
Editor | Nan, Abby, James
