Three groups of migrants have taken over the Yellow River beach, and Henan's winter has become lively again

The northwest wind blew away fallen leaves and chilled the winter, but it made the wetlands along the Yellow River in Henan "lively". Frosty and cold, the grass withered, but the Yellow River wetlands welcomed a large number of wintering migratory birds. Swans appeared in the wetlands of Sanmenxia, ​​Jiyuan, Puyang, Zhengzhou and other places. Thousands of wild geese landed and soared on sandbanks and shallow waters. The black stork, the "giant panda among birds", flew to the Mengjin Yellow River wetlands as a "returning guest" to spend the winter.

Henan connects the east and the west, the south and the north, and is located on an important East Asia-Australia migratory bird corridor. There are three migratory bird corridors in the province, with hundreds of thousands of birds migrating through the corridor every year. These migratory birds account for two-thirds of the total number of birds in the province.

Discovery: White swans detected in Jiyuan and Puyang

In recent years, the swans that fly here to spend the winter in late autumn have greatly increased the exposure of Sanmenxia. In fact, in addition to Sanmenxia, ​​white swans have other places to stay in Henan.

Swans frolic in the Yellow River wetlands of Jiyuan.

Recently, Jiyuan Yuyang Lake welcomed a group of special visitors. During monitoring, the staff of Jiyuan Demonstration Zone Forestry Bureau found that more than 30 swans were playing in the water, with gray or white feathers, gathering together and moving leisurely. In recent years, swans have appeared in Jiyuan East Lake, Hekou Reservoir, Quyang Lake, Wanyang Lake, Jiyuan section of Yellow River Wetland National Nature Reserve, and Wulongkou section of Qinhe River. The Yuyang Lake system was found for the first time.

A large number of white-bone crabs come to Jiyuan Yellow River wetlands to spend the winter.

Some swans choose to overwinter in the wetlands along the Yellow River in Henan, while some swans use Henan as a temporary "gas station", staying briefly in the wetlands to replenish their strength before continuing to migrate south.

Swans resting in the Yellow River wetlands in Puyang County.

The Puyang County Yellow River Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve recently welcomed the first batch of swans that migrated and stayed temporarily. According to the staff of the reserve monitoring station, the Puyang County Yellow River Wetland is located on the East Asia-Australia Migratory Route, one of the three major migratory routes for migratory birds. The swamps, waters and mudflats are wide and the food sources for birds are rich. Currently, the migratory birds passing through the Yellow River Wetland include white swans, bean geese, etc., with a total of nearly 1,500, including 18 white swans and thousands of geese and ducks, which has increased significantly compared with the spring migration northward.

Monitoring : 36 black storks, the "giant panda among birds", arrive in Mengjin Yellow River Wetland

Recently, the winter wind blew the reeds and the Yellow River was covered with snow. The Mengjin Yellow River Wetland welcomed back its "old friend", the black stork, known as the "giant panda among birds". The number of black storks discovered this time reached 36, which is the largest number of black storks monitored in early winter in recent years.

Black stork. Photographed by Ma Chaohong of the Mengjin Management Center of the Yellow River Wetland

The black stork belongs to the family Ciconiiformes, a national first-class protected bird, a large wading bird with a graceful body, long red legs and beak, and black feathers that shine metallically under the sun, making it dazzling. The black stork is a national treasure, with only about 3,000 left in the world. The black stork has been wintering in the Mengjin Yellow River Wetland for many years and has become a "regular visitor" here. The most scientists have observed at the same time is 84, which is rare in China.

The person in charge of the Mengjin Yellow River Wetland Management Center said that in recent years, with the significant improvement of the ecological environment of the Mengjin Yellow River Wetland, the biodiversity of the Mengjin Yellow River Wetland Reserve has increased significantly, and it has become an important station on the migratory route of migratory birds and an important habitat for birds. So far, a total of 330 bird species have been recorded in the reserve, with the maximum number of birds reaching more than 150,000.

Magnificent event : tens of thousands of wild geese rise and fall on the Yellow River in Changyuan

As the main force of bird migration, wild geese have also arrived at the Yellow River wetlands, resting and foraging in large groups on the mudflats and sandbars. They fly in groups at the slightest disturbance, and the scene is quite spectacular.

Migratory birds monitored in the Yellow River Wetland in Zhengzhou. Photo taken by Zhengzhou Nature Reserve Affairs Center

Since the beginning of winter, many first- and second-class protected birds have been detected in the Yellow River Wetland in Zhengzhou. The relevant person in charge of the Zhengzhou Nature Reserve Affairs Center said that they have detected the first-class protected animal Great Bustard, the second-class protected animals Grey Crane, Little Swan, White Spoonbill, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Mandarin Duck, etc., as well as large populations of Common Cormorant and Short-billed Bean Goose.

In the Yellow River beach area of ​​Changyuan, a large number of migratory birds are welcomed among the yellow sandbanks and green wheat fields.

On the evening of November 22, the sun set over the Changhe River, and the water was covered with golden waves. Groups of bean geese became the "absolute" main migratory birds, accounting for an overwhelming majority. Relevant personnel from the Changyuan Forestry Bureau said that with the drop in temperature and the arrival of winter, the number of geese flying to the Changyuan Yellow River beach area has reached 40,000 to 50,000 in recent days.

Migration : Hundreds of thousands of birds migrate across the country every year

Every winter, the weather in Henan is cold, but the rivers and lakes, including the Yellow River wetlands, usher in one of the busiest times of the year. What is the reason?

Li Huanhuan from the Protection Department of Henan Forestry Bureau said that Henan, which spans four major river basins, has excellent climatic conditions and diverse biological types. It is an important channel for migratory birds from East Asia to Australia. It has rich migratory bird species, with hundreds of thousands of birds migrating through the province every year. According to the results of wildlife monitoring in Henan Province in 2023 and related literature, there are 495 bird species in the province, accounting for about 1/3 of the country's bird species. Most of them are migratory birds, with about 335 species, accounting for about 2/3 of the province's bird species.

Li Huanhuan said that there are roughly three main routes for migratory birds in Henan, namely the west route, the middle route and the east route. Since Henan's topography is mostly low mountains, hills and plains, there are few natural barriers and there is no obvious boundary between the three migration routes. The west route is located in the western mountainous area, including Taihang Mountain, Xiaoqinling Mountain, Xiaoshan Mountain, Xiong'er Mountain, Songshan Mountain, Mangshan Mountain, Funiushan Mountain, Tongbai Mountain, etc., involving provincial cities (demonstration areas) such as Anyang, Hebi, Xinxiang, Jiaozuo, Jiyuan, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Sanmenxia, ​​and Nanyang. Migratory birds include forest birds, raptors and water birds, and the main habitat types are forests, grasslands and wetlands distributed in mountainous areas.

The middle line is located in the transition area between the western mountainous area and the eastern plains. Its direction is basically the same as that of the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway, and it involves provincial cities such as Anyang, Xinxiang, Jiaozuo, Zhengzhou, Xuchang, Zhumadian, and Xinyang. Migratory birds are mainly water birds and forest birds, and there are also some birds of prey. The eastern line is located in the eastern Henan plain, involving provincial cities such as Puyang, Kaifeng, Shangqiu, Zhoukou, Zhumadian, and Xinyang. Migratory birds are mainly water birds and forest birds.

Protection丨Monitoring, patrolling and inspection to "escort" migratory birds

The harmonious coexistence of man and nature is premised on the improvement of the environment and ecology. The creation of a life community of green mountains and clear waters, blue sky and white clouds, mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasses and sand ice can attract more and more migratory birds to the Yellow River Wetland in Henan and choose to spend the winter in Henan.

According to information, in recent years, Henan Province has continuously improved its wildlife protection system and focused on promoting the monitoring of important migratory bird populations and habitat protection. So far, the province has established 351 nature reserves of various types, 19 of which have been selected into the first batch of important terrestrial wildlife habitats in the country. 95% of the province's national key protected wildlife and 80% of typical ecosystems have been included in the protection scope.

Jiyuan Yellow River wetlands welcome wintering migratory birds.

At the same time, a water bird resource survey was carried out throughout the province, and dynamic monitoring was implemented. Since 2021, the Henan Provincial Forestry Bureau has continued to conduct a water bird resource survey across the province. So far, seven surveys have been conducted, and rare and endangered birds such as the Chinese merganser, black stork, and Oriental white stork have frequently appeared, providing a scientific basis and foundation for comprehensively strengthening the protection of birds and habitats.

Li Huanhuan said that the forestry department will continue to focus on living space, using "Operation Qingfeng" and "Operation Net Shield" as a starting point to continuously carry out patrols and inspections of key areas such as migratory bird corridors, important habitats, and concentrated distribution areas during the migratory season. It will strictly prevent and crack down on illegal hunting of migratory birds and other behaviors, and "escort" the migration of migratory birds.