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"Bird Waves" appears at Maoming Shuidong Bay

Recently, the breathtaking "bird waves" were observed in the sky above the Shuidong Bay Mangrove Wetland. Thousands of migratory birds were seen flying together, sometimes skimming low over the water and sometimes soaring into the sky. 

"These birds are called vinous-throated bulbuls. They usually roost in the mangroves at night and fly out together in the morning, then break into smaller flocks to forage in the mangrove forest," said photographer Chen Ai, who enjoys photographing birds and has been tracking and capturing this rare natural beauty for years. Recently, he and his friends captured this incredible scene of bird waves. 

The vinous-throated bulbul is a protected bird under China's "Three-Grade Protection System" and is also known as the "phoenix bird" among the people. During winter migration, they gather in large flocks. The Shuidong Bay Mangrove Reserve has been rated as one of the "Top Ten Birdwatching Destinations in Guangdong Province." 

From November each year to April of the following year, many migratory birds visit the Shuidong Bay Mangrove Wetland, with over 130 species such as herons, gulls, and waders being observed.

In June 2024, a team from the Ocean University of China discovered five nationally protected first-grade birds in Shuidong Bay and its surroundings, including the Oriental Turtle Dove, Painted Stork, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Black-faced Spoonbill, and Yellow-bellied Prinia, as well as 36 second-grade protected bird species.

Author | Deng Jianqing

Photos | Chen Ai, Yang Qi

Editor | Wei Shen, James, Shen He