‘Bird Panda’ Tibetan Short-toed Lark Spotted in Minquan Yellow River Ancient Causeway Wetland Park
Henan Economic Network News(Henan Economic Daily reporter Qiao Jixian, intern Chen Jiao, correspondent Zhang Zengfeng) On March 1st, bird photography enthusiast Zhang Tianyi was sampling and shooting in the Yellow River Ancient Causeway National Wetland Park in Minquan County when he captured with his lens the endangered bird, the Tibetan Short-toed Lark, which is known as ‘the panda of birds’, and observed and recorded more than 10 individuals on site.
“I was crouching in the reeds when I heard a series of crisp and pleasant chirping sounds, and saw about fifteen very beautiful little birds flipping and jumping in the reeds, which was very interesting, so I quickly shot it with my camera.” Zhang Tianyi, a bird photography enthusiast, said that after he captured this group of Tibetan Short-toed Larks, he first compared the birds he froze in the lens with pictures on the internet, then contacted bird experts for verification, and finally confirmed that it was indeed a Tibetan Short-toed Lark.
“The Tibetan Short-toed Lark belongs to a rare bird species in China. Due to its scarcity, it is listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. It is known as ‘the panda of birds’. Tibetan Short-toed Larks only live in large reed marshes with original ecology, and have strict requirements for their survival environment. They eat the surface of the reeds or insects inside the reeds, and often jump and flutter on the reeds. They use their hard beaks to crack open the reed stalks and peck out the insects inside, so they are also known as ‘woodpeckers in the reeds’ and ‘a goddess of the reeds’.
“In February 2013, it was approved by the Ministry of Foresty and Grassland Administration and the Grassland Administration to establish Minquan Yellow River Ancient Causeway National Wetland Park. The park’s water area is wide and the water level is stable, with clear and transparent water without pollution, which has attracted many birds to inhabit and reside. Every year, a large number of migratory birds come here to spend the winter. About 100 species of birds have been discovered, including the Black-faced Spoonbill, the Yellow-billed Duck and the Tibetan Crane, among which there are less than 1000 individuals globally, and is listed as Critically Endangered by the World Conservation Union, with about 160 individuals residing and breeding here. It has become a ‘bird paradise’.
“On February 2nd, the 24th World Wetlands Day, China designated 7 new International Important Wetlands, among which Minquan Yellow River Ancient Causeway Wetland Park is included, and it is also the first provincial International Important Wetland.”
