Red-bellied Scoters Once Again Dominate the Seas and Shores, 'Crimson-Bellied Pheasant' Dances into Pictures
In the area of Liu Lin He River in Sanmen Town, Pinglu County, Shanxi Province, a group of Red-bellied Scoters has appeared, with a population of dozens or more. They stroll and forage, dance gracefully, attracting many tourists and photographers.
Recently, with the shift from hillside farming back to forestry and the improvement of ecological conditions, Mr. Guo Cunsao in Liu Lin He Village, Sanmen Township, Pinglu County, saw Red-bellied Scoters last winter. At that time, the old man thought the bird was really beautiful. It was bitterly cold, and the old man worried that the bird wouldn't find food, so he self-funded and bought broken wheat grains and seed from a flour mill to feed and raise the birds. After several months of feeding, two Red-bellied Socker populations have been found, approximately 30 or more.
Red-bellied Scoters are a nationally unique bird species, a second-class protected animal in China, listed in the 'China Red Listed Endangered Animals' and the 'World Conservation Union' 2016 Red List of Endangered Species. The prototype of the Phoenix, which the Chinese admire as the 'King of Birds', is the Red-bellied Socker.
Emperor Huizong wrote a poem praising it: 'Resisting the frost in autumn, with a crown and feathered chicken. Known for the five virtues, tranquil as a mandarin duck.' The male Red-bellied Socker is known as having 'Five Virtues': 'Wearing a crown, representing culture; stepping with a foot, representing martial arts; daring to fight when enemies are in front, representing courage; calling for food, representing benevolence; not losing time when guarding the night, representing trustworthiness.' The Red-bellied Socker's silky crest, foot-capped feet, tiger markings, and phoenix tail, its cultured and martial appearance, praised for these five virtues is just right.
According to monitoring by local forestry departments, the most Red-bellied Scoters here can reach over a hundred. With the gradual improvement of the ecological environment, the Red-bellied Scoters in Pinglu County, Shanxi Province, are increasing year by year.
Soaring Red-bellied Scoters resemble a 'Red Phoenix'. Nowadays, it is winter, and many tourists, photographers, and major media are coming to Sanwan, Pinglu County, to photograph swans, Red-bellied Scoters, stone grouse, and black-crowned night herons… This has become a classic route for photographing wild birds both domestically and internationally.
There is a group of colorful Red-bellied Scoters, either strolling leisurely or gracefully foraging, as if coming from a painting. Every frame is like a Chinese painting. (Like more picture stories, add attention)
