Feeling the vibe of nature? Qilihai Wetland in the northern region of the Chinese mainland just broke its own record, welcoming 308 bird species this autumn—up from 258 in 2021! 🦅✨
Located in Ninghe District, Tianjin Municipality, this marshy paradise is a must-stop on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, one of the world’s busiest avian highways. With over 600,000 birds expected this season, it’s basically the Coachella of bird migration. 🎉
Early Birds Get the Worm
Conservation experts say an early cold snap farther north kicked off the migration ahead of schedule. When the usual habitats froze over sooner, birds like the oriental stork arrived nearly 10 days early. 😲❄️
Star Performers of the Season
- Oriental storks: Touchdown in early October 🏁
- Eurasian spoonbills: Numbers soared over 3,000—double the norm! 🥄💥
- Rare guests: White-naped cranes and common cranes making an appearance 🎀
To protect these feathery influencers, reserve staff have doubled down on habitat restoration, water level management, and smart monitoring—drones and all! 🚁🌿
“We’re here to make sure every wingbeat counts,” says Tian Xiujing, director of the reserve’s management committee. With a high-tech monitoring network, they’re tracking every arrival to keep the ecosystem thriving.
For nature lovers, travelers, and budding conservationists, Qilihai is an inspiring reminder of how vital wetlands are for global biodiversity. So next time you scroll past an #EcoTok video, remember—there’s a wetland in Tianjin that’s creating real-life #BirdGoals! 🎥👍
Reference(s):
China's Qilihai Wetland reports record bird counts, earlier migration
cgtn.com
