The Yellow River Gourd Gorge: White Swans Return
This reporter, Zhang Zhengfeng, reports that 'Wind brings warmth, and spring is gradually emerging.' On February 19th, over 200 beautiful white swans descended upon the Henan Miyin Yellow River Gourd Gorge Wetland Park. They were swimming together in the water, sometimes soaring through the sky, adding a vibrant landscape to the early spring Yellow River Gourd Gorge Wetland Park.
Wetlands are an important ecological barrier in the natural environment, often referred to as 'the lungs of the Earth.' According to reports, the Miyin Yellow River Gourd Gorge National Wetland Park, established in February 2013 through a notice from the State Forest Administration, has wide water surfaces and stable water levels, with clear, transparent, and pollution-free water quality, creating a good ecological environment that attracts a large number of birds to reside and stay, with a large number of migratory birds staying and overwintering here every year, with 20 or more species of birds, including white swans, black-billed ducks, and geese, have made their home and multiplied, including the critically endangered yellow-billed duck, with a global population of less than 1,000, which is listed as critically endangered in the Red List of the World Conservation Union. Approximately 160 were observed and resided in the Miyin Yellow River Gourd Gorge National Wetland Park.
Recently, February 2nd was the 24th World Wetlands Day. China has newly designated 7 international important wetlands, and Miyin Yellow River Gourd Gorge Wetland Park is among them, becoming the first provincial wetland to be designated as an international important wetland.
It is understood that the habitat of migratory birds, such as white swans, requires high ecological environment standards, they will only visit or reside in places where the water quality is clean and the air quality is fresh. White swans have flown to Miyin Yellow River Gourd Gorge Wetland Park for several consecutive years. To create a good habitat for these 'white angels', the wetland management department of the county has increased its publicity efforts, educating the surrounding people about the importance of loving and protecting birds. The surrounding residents consciously love and protect birds, creating a 'protection umbrella' for the swans and other migratory birds, and the scene of flocks of birds flying and dancing has become a normal landscape.
'The ecological environment of my county's Yellow River Gourd Gorge National Wetland Park is getting better and better, and more and more rare birds are 'settling in' the Yellow River Gourd Gorge. We not only take inspection and protection measures for these birds but also regularly feed them, caring for and protecting birds has become a conscious behavior of Miyin people.' Li Jie, Director of the Miyin Yellow River Gourd Gorge National Wetland Park Management Center, introduced.
