This year, tundra swans arrived in Beijing E-Town earlier than in other years.

Recently, staff from the Beijing Biodiversity Conservation Research Center spotted six tundra swans resting on the surface of Yanyinghai Lake in Phase II of the Nanhaizi Park. They were seen freely swimming or gracefully cavorting on the water.

Tundra swans fly above the lake [Photo/beijingetown.com.cn]

Three of the tundra swans had brownish-yellow feathers on their heads, necks, chests, and bellies, indicating their breeding plumage and suggesting they are adults ready for the upcoming breeding season. The other three had black feathers on their heads and necks, indicating they were juveniles.

Tundra swans swim in the lake [Photo/beijingetown.com.cn]

"It seems that the tundra swans on Yanyinghai are a family, and they will stay here for a while to replenish their energy and recover," said a staff member. 

Tundra swans started coming in groups in 2019, and return every year. Each year they come earlier, which is closely related to the excellent ecological environment of Beijing E-Town. 

In recent years, with the continuous improvement of the biodiversity conservation system and the optimization of biodiversity conservation models, the level of urban biodiversity conservation in the area has been effectively improved. 

Not only have there been gatherings of swans, tundra swans, and mute swans, but also rare wild birds such as the white-tailed sea eagle, scaly-sided merganser, and the "internet celebrity" the northern long-tailed tit.

Tundra swans fly above the lake [Photo/beijingetown.com.cn]

The arrival of the tundra swan family marks the beginning of a large number of migratory water birds stopping and resting in E-Town. 

The research center staff member called on the public to consciously observe birds and take photos in a civilized manner and to avoid feeding behaviors that could potentially change the birds' migratory patterns, residency habits, and grouping characteristics.