Up to 380 Species! The ‘Social Circle’ of the Lihou Fenghu (Chestnut-tailed Paradise Flycatcher) is Bustling in Xiamen! Have You Seen Them?
Hi~ My name is Lihou Fenghu ()
In China, everyone finds me very ‘coveted’, calling me ‘China’s Most Beautiful Migratory Bird’ and ‘Summer Sprite’.
Each year, I and my companions have a ‘date’ with Xiamen.
Soon, you’ll all be able to see our silhouettes as we fly to Xiamen!
Today, I’m here to share my ‘social circle’
First, I’d like to represent my companions and express our gratitude for the special festival established for us –
‘Bird Watching Week’ (Each year from March 25th to 31st for Fujian Province, this is the 38th ‘Bird Watching Week’)
In Xiamen, my ‘social circle’ is vast, with 380 ‘cuties’ being my friends (as compiled and organized by the City Bird Watching Association, as of February 28th, 2019, a total of 22 orders and 74 families of 381 bird species were recorded in Xiamen, with 1 being a Level I protected animal (Lihou Fenghu), and 47 being Level II protected animals).
My friends aren't just active in my ‘social circle’ – they also frequently appear in human ‘social circles’.
Recently, swallows, reed warblers, and other summer-migratory birds, such as black-faced whiskered terns and white-bellied blue rock thrushes, have appeared on the island.
Let’s see what you’ve seen!
Dark-backed thrush ()
Magpie ()
White-capped thrush ()
Black-faced thrush ()
Black-necked mynah ()
Gray magpie ()
Japanese magpie ()
Thrush ()
Brown-backed thrush ()
Look,
The ‘cuties’ on the beach are becoming more and more numerous, competing for food!
Many people often ask
Why do I and my companions love to ‘hang around’ in Xiamen?
Because the people of Xiamen are very good to us. To protect us, Xiamen has established two nature reserves. One is the Xiamen Rare Marine Species National Nature Reserve, which merges the Xiamen White Dolphin Provincial Nature Reserve, the Xiamen Great Egret Provincial Nature Reserve, and the Xiamen Wenzhou Fish Level Protection Zone, with a total area of 7588 hectares, protecting 12 rare species.
Do you know?
There are more than 60 species of herons in the world, 20 of which are found in China (excluding vagrant birds), 17 of which are found in Xiamen.
In the Xiamen area, white herons, night herons, pond herons, and cattle herons congregate and breed. Baby birds hatch and parents take turns foraging and nurturing them, about one month later, the babies will leave the nest to forage for themselves. Under the care of the reserves, the survival rate of the baby birds can reach 85%!
Next,
I’m going to introduce a specially established –
Xiamen Luyuan Bay Lihou Fenghu Nature Reserve
Each April to July, I will fly to Xiamen to lay eggs, incubate, and raise young birds. I will return to Southeast Asia to overwinter in August.
In 2017, over 80 ‘little tigers’ accompanied me to Xiamen, and last year reached about 120. It’s a formidable lineup. Besides ‘home’, some active ‘little tigers’ also like to ‘hang out’ in places such as Xian, , , etc.Okay, that’s all for today.Our lead troops are about to arrive at the island.
Let’s meet then!
Xiamen Newspaper Group New Media Center Production
Source: Haixi Morning Herald
Haixi Morning Herald reporters: Chen Hao, Chen Lijiye
Haixi Morning Herald original work, unauthorized, shall not be reproduced, violators shall be held liable!
