Great Migration of Birds at Baoyu Park
The thrushes in Shiyi Park. Photography by Lei Jinyu.
As a vital stopover for migratory birds, Wuhan, known as the ‘Nine Provinces Conduit’, is also a crucial location.
Located at the south foot of Wuchang Snake Hill, extending from Wuchang Road Culvert to Dadanmen, is Shiyi Park. Constructed in 1924 to commemorate the Wuchang Uprising, the park has endured a century of storms. Despite being just one wall away from Yellow Crane Tower Park, it has avoided the crowds and became a haven for birds, especially for migratory birds resting during their southward and northward journeys. Covering an area of only 10 hectares, the park has recorded 110 bird species in a few years, with 50 of them being migratory birds.
In late March, the lingering Black-throated Thrush and Chipping Sparrow haven't fully departed, while the vanguard of the migratory flocks – Crowned Larkspur Warbler has begun to climb the trunks after the Wuchang Uprising memorial. By early April, on a clear morning after a rain, the White-browed Thrush, Yellow-headed Warbler and Brown-headed Thrush will appear together on the broad-leaf trees near Bingtang. As May approaches, thrushes, warblers and Waxbills become the main migration forces, until the Red-flanged Robin disappears, marking the end of the spring migration. In late August, the city is still hot, and the North Grey Thrush and Yellow-headed Warbler return to the small forest under the Shiyi Cannon Fort for a 2-month-long southward return...
Within the migratory army stopping at Shiyi Park, thrushes represent a significant group. The park is built on a slope, with walkways mostly built on the slope alongside Wuluo Road and the slope alongside the Jingguang Railway is left untouched, with dense vegetation, including trees, shrubs, and groundcover plants, making it rare for visitors to reach, providing a good habitat and concealment for shy thrushes. The White-browed Thrush, Orange-headed Thrush, White-throated Thrush, and White-browed Thrush have been faithfully arriving year after year, along with resident thrushes such as Purple-throated Thrush and Common Thrush, making it a remarkable feat in the city's central location.
Similarly, Sha Lake Park, built on water, is a relatively young urban park. Thanks to diverse habitats in the early stages of park construction (lake, shoreline, pond, forest, grassland...), and a variety of vegetation types (Lotus, Reed, and Cattail as representative submerged plants, broadleaf trees and Scots Pine as representative trees, and remnant shrubs) and its large area, this park has recorded over 140 bird species, with more than 60 of them being migratory birds passing through.
‘Warbler’ is a distinctive group in this park. In the only several mature broadleaf trees and Scots Pine forest in the park, 11 species of warbler were recorded, including the first Wuhan record of the Black-billed Warbler, and the rare in the Central China Black-browed Warbler. In the submerged plants along the shore and pond, the Black-reed Warbler appears regularly in spring, along with the Eastern Great Reed Warbler, Yellow-billed Warbler, and Brown-eared Warbler.
Built in 1952, Liberation Park retains a small patch of wild land – Monkey Mountain. This small hill is not excessively artificialized, and retains a very rich variety of trees and shrubs, therefore, it is the main contribution to the park's 100 bird species record, Wuhan's first recorded Grey-crowned Warbler and the undetermined Chestnut Thrush originate from here.
Walking along the path uphill to the hill, on the tall broadleaf trees, various warblers are active between the leaves, and Mountain Jays chase each other, and the calls of the Pitta family echo high above. Passing around the back of the hill, waiting for a while, the hidden Blue Song Thrush, Red-tailed Song Thrush, White-headed Tree Warbler, White-browed Finch, and Mountain Lilet, will slowly appear...
