The Giant Panda among Birds - Great Bustard

"The feathers of the great bustards flutter in the air, gathering in the brooding tree" is a poem in the Book of Songs describing the unique scene of great bustards flapping their wings in groups. The great bustard is a first-class protected animal in China, and is listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The great bustard is also known as the "giant panda among birds".

The food sources of the Great Bustards, which live in groups, are mainly tender leaves, buds, grass, seeds, insects, grasshoppers, frogs, etc. They generally live in open plains, grasslands and semi-deserted areas, and also appear along rivers, lakes and nearby dry and wet grasslands.

The Great Bustard has a short beak and a long head. Its lead-gray beak is tipped with black and its iris is brown. It has a large body with spotted feathers and large, round wings with large white spots. Its gray-brown legs are similar to those of the Heel Crane but stronger, which is convenient for supporting its large body and for running.

(Photo provided by Chen Xiaodong)

Unlike the "light" birds we often see, the Great Bustard is more like a light brown "ostrich". The Great Bustard is one of the largest flying birds in the world. The male bird can reach 1 meter in length and weigh 10 kilograms. The female bird is relatively much smaller than the male bird, with an average weight of 3.5 kilograms. Therefore, the Great Bustard has the largest weight difference between male and female birds in the world. Because of its heavy weight, it is very difficult for the Great Bustard to take off, so it is particularly sensitive to approaching threats. If a person appears within 500 meters, the Great Bustard will be alert and will fly away if you get within 200 meters.

Tumuji National Nature Reserve has a vast grassland area, excellent grass quality, and numerous wetland lakes. It is the first nature reserve in my country that focuses on protecting the breeding grounds of great bustards. It is named "Hometown of Great Bustards in China" and can provide a good environment for great bustards to forage, live, and reproduce. Every year, great bustards come to Tumuji to spend the winter. They are almost the only creatures that can be seen on the snow-covered grasslands, bringing vitality and vigor to the long winter.

The floodplain of the Yellow River in Changyuan is also an important gathering place for great bustards. There are about 1,600 great bustards nationwide, and 450 great bustards have been monitored in the floodplain of the Yellow River in Changyuan, accounting for a quarter of the national number. The leisurely great bustards often move in groups in farmland, sometimes flying and sometimes gathering.

In recent years, with the continuous increase in ecological environmental protection efforts, the area of ​​forest and grass vegetation has gradually recovered, and there are more and more safe habitats for wild animals. In some areas, great bustards have also appeared in wheat fields. In fact, it is not only the number of great bustards that is increasing, but the number of other wild animals has also increased significantly in recent years. Wild animals are not only an important part of the natural ecosystem, but also an indispensable resource for ensuring the sustainable development of human economic and social development. We believe that through a variety of measures such as expanding wildlife reserves, breeding and releasing to expand the population, and raising people's awareness of protection, the number of wild animal populations will surely recover steadily.

Review expert: Chen Xiaodong, member of the Chinese Science Writers Lecture Group

China Association for Science and Technology Department of Science Popularization

Xinhuanet

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