Look! There’s an “ice cream” on the tree!

Review expert: Ran Hao, a well-known popular science writer

"Look! There's an 'ice cream' on the tree!" "There are so many 'little fat birds' this year." "So cute and silly, why don't they leave when they see people..."

Source: Beijing Daily

Have you seen the "little fat chicks" in Beijing? As winter approaches, bird-watching enthusiasts in Beijing are getting excited because the Internet celebrity "little fat chicks" - the northern long-tailed tits - have come to Beijing in large numbers this winter!

"Little Fat Chickadee" - Northern Long-tailed Tit

The Northern Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) has a round head, a round body, a long tail that doesn't match its shape, and a small black beak. It looks very cute. Although the Northern Long-tailed Tit can reach 13-16cm in length, it weighs only 7-9 grams.

Source: Beijing Daily

Their "color combinations" include black, white, and yellow. They are loved for their warm, fluffy feathers and plump, round bodies. On the Internet, they are affectionately called "little fat chirps." "Little fat chirps" are not only cute, but also have unique living habits. They often move in small groups and are lively by nature. This winter, "little fat chirps" appeared on branches in the streets and alleys of Beijing, bringing a different kind of scenery to the monotony of winter.

Why did “Little Fatty” come to Beijing?

The large number of northern long-tailed tits that have spent the winter in Beijing this year is in stark contrast to previous years. Before this, many bird-watching enthusiasts could hardly see them even though they had to wait day and night in major parks. This year, these "little fat chicks" can be seen not only in various parks, but also in the grass, green belts, and trees in residential areas.

Why did the "little fat chicks" come to Beijing to spend the winter this year? Relevant experts explained: Northern long-tailed tits are mainly distributed in Xinjiang and Northeast China. As a partially migratory bird, they will choose the way to migrate according to the environment. If there is enough food and the winter temperature is not so low, they can "eat well and wear warm clothes" locally, and they will migrate from high altitude areas to plains with high temperatures and sufficient food. But if the temperature drops sharply this winter and food is scarce, they will move out in groups to the south to find warm places to spend the winter.

Source: Central Meteorological Observatory

Beijing is located in a plain and is very close to the Northeast, making it an ideal place for these "little fat birds" to spend the winter. Not only is the geographical location suitable for wintering, but Beijing's natural environment is also "excellent". In recent years, Beijing's environmental protection work has been quite effective. There are more blue skies, better air, and more vegetation, and the "little fat birds" have also come. These birds can get enough food in Beijing and have more habitats, becoming "North Drifters" in winter.

Source: Central Meteorological Observatory

In addition, the sudden arrival of the cold wave may also affect the wintering choices of the "little fat birds". In previous years, in early November, friends in the north began to prepare for or even enter winter, but this year in early November, the north was still cool and crisp. However, with the arrival of the cold wave, the temperature in northern China dropped suddenly, and in some areas the temperature even dropped by more than ten degrees in one day.

In addition, the sudden heavy snowfall in Northeast China is also one of the reasons why the northern long-tailed tits migrate south for the winter. With good food and warm shelter, many more "little fat chicks" have spent the winter in Beijing this year.

The bird neighbors of Beijingers

In addition to the northern long-tailed tit, there are many other common birds in Beijing in winter, such as magpies, gray magpies, great tits, etc. In daily life, as long as you look up and pay attention to the treetops, you can find the winter elves.

The gray magpie (Cyanopica cyanus) is the third most common bird in Beijing. It is small in size and likes to live in the company of humans.

Source: Wikipedia/Toshihiro Gamo

The great tit (Parus minor, not the Eurasian great tit, Parus major) is a lively little bird with a bluish-black head that looks cute. It is also called "white-face" because of its white cheeks.

Source: Wikipedia/Laitche

The environment has improved, and birds have come.

Beijing's efforts in environmental protection over the years have not only made people's living environment more beautiful, but also attracted many birds to settle in Beijing. The number of bird species that were previously rare in Beijing has gradually increased. For example, red-flanked white-eyes and great tits, which were once rare birds, have now become regular visitors in bird watching activities in Beijing.

Purple-backed Starling (Sturnus philippensis) Source: Baidu Encyclopedia

Between 2020 and 2022, Beijing conducted 340 bird surveys. 143 bird species were found in the Summer Palace, 142 in the Temple of Heaven, 164 in Yuyuantan Park, 119 in the National Botanical Garden, and 103 in the Beijing Zoo. In the past, when we went bird watching, there were "no birds to shoot", but now, we can see "flocks of birds". Not only that, everyone was pleasantly surprised to find that 12 new bird species appeared in Beijing, including the short-billed swiftlet, the chestnut-backed short-legged bulbul, and the chestnut kite. A good living environment continues to attract birds to settle down, and we will have more and more bird "neighbors" in the future.

Recommended bird watching spots

With so many lovely birds around us, where should we go to watch these little elves? Here are a few recommended bird watching spots:

Baiwang Mountain: Located in Haidian District, Beijing, it is a popular destination for bird-watching enthusiasts. The rich vegetation and diverse ecological environment here attract many birds to inhabit.

Olympic Forest Park: There are lakes and green areas here, where many birds live. You can enjoy the gray magpies, great tits and other birds that are easy to see in Beijing in winter.

Yuanmingyuan: As a royal garden with a long history, the lakes and woods in Yuanmingyuan provide a good living environment for birds. Here, you can observe birds such as red-flanked white-eye and northern long-tailed tit.

Temple of Heaven Park: As a world cultural heritage, Temple of Heaven Park has rich vegetation and historical buildings. The ecological environment here is suitable for many kinds of birds to inhabit, making it a good place for bird watching.

If the above places are too far away from you, then choose a small park near your home. Bird watching is a date with nature. As long as you pay attention, you will always see birds singing and playing in the grass and treetops.

This winter, are you going to go bird watching in Beijing? Let's take action together to watch birds, love birds, protect the environment, and jointly protect this beautiful home.