Wetlands in Heilongjiang provide seasonal stopover for migratory birds

As winter approaches, Xingkai Lake National Nature Reserve in Mishan, Heilongjiang province, has begun welcoming the seasonal vanguard of migratory birds to its wetlands.

Large flocks gather in these wetlands, located along the China-Russia border, and the reserve conducts banding and tracking, patrolling and public awareness campaigns to identify and protect them, and to safeguard their migratory path as they head south.

In the vast wetlands, flocks of geese, red-crowned cranes and other species gather to forage and ramble leisurely by the water, creating a vibrant ecological tableau.

As an important stopover for birds on the East Asia-Australasia migratory route, Xingkai Lake sees a peak in migratory bird traffic every October.

To accurately understand migration patterns, monitoring personnel from the reserve's management bureau engage in bird banding, as well as securing electronic devices that enable satellite tracking. Since the start of the autumn's migratory season, they have banded 46 geese and ducks and fitted 15 tracking devices.

Through the banding identification and satellite tracking, researchers can precisely document the migratory routes, stopover durations and population dynamics of the birds, providing detailed scientific data for wetland ecological protection and bird habitat restoration.

The peak migratory period has been reached, with incoming bird numbers surpassing 100,000 daily.

In addition to strengthening scientific monitoring of the birds, the reserve has adopted multiple measures to ensure their safety. Enforcement teams conduct patrols to remove traps and provide 24-hour protection in areas where birds are known to congregate, cracking down on illegal hunting and habitat destruction.

Education officials promote bird protection in local schools and communities, using various forms of publicity, science lectures, handbooks and bird-watching activities to educate youth and other members of the public to raise awareness about the importance of conservation.

In recent years, with increased ecological protection efforts in the region, the wetland ecosystem has been gradually restored and improved, leading to a steady increase in its used by migratory birds. The number of birds passing through annually now exceeds 1 million.

The wetlands, which measure more than 220,000 hectares, are becoming a reassuring stopover for countless migratory birds on their journeys south and north.