100,000 migratory birds settle in Nansha

In Nansha you can enjoy picturesque scenery in any season: soft moonlight and starlight in the summer, blue seas and gentle winds in the autumn and migratory birds flying overhead in the winter. 

On Jan 20, the annual global survey of black-faced spoonbills was carried out in the Nansha Wetland.

Bird survey experts from the Guangdong Institute of Biological Resources Application and enthusiasts from Guangzhou and other birdwatching associations, as well as citizens and students keen on bird observation go by boat to the Nansha Wetland to explore the shoals and mangrove areas where migratory birds live. Here they closely observe black-faced spoonbills, scorpions, herons and other birds.

As an important migratory bird habitat in China, the Nansha Wetland welcomes more than 100,000 migratory birds settled here every winter.[Photo/gznsnews.com]

The black-faced spoonbill is one of the world's most endangered and rare birds. There are only 3,940 left in the world. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature Resources and the International Committee for the Protection of Birds have included it in the Red Book of Endangered Species. Last year, Nansha Wetland recorded 40 black-faced spoonbills in a photo at the same time, which was not only a new historical high in the scenic spot, but also delighted countless bird lovers.

Yuan Qianmin, who has been monitoring birds in the Nansha wetland for six years, told reporters that the Nansha Wetland provides a very stable habitat for the “picky” black-faced spoonbill. According to reports, the number of migratory birds and resident birds in the Nansha Wetland has reached 180, and the number of migratory birds that have come to the Nansha Wetland for the winter exceeds 100,000. 

The Nansha Wetland replants mangroves and other plants every year, and cleans the wetlands every day. The shoal area is also equipped with water level control equipment and live fish.The 3-5 cm water level maintained in the shoal areas is more convenient for birds to forage. The areas provide superior ecological conditions for the birds.

Today, Nansha has a large number of tourist attractions and facilities such as Nansha Wetland, Tianhou Palace, Million Sunflower Garden, Nansha Binhai Park, DongchongWater Town Flavor Street, the Nansha Garden Hotel and the Sheraton Hotel. In addition to the wetland ecology, Nansha also combines the characteristics of an international coastal city with the style of Lingnan water town. The historical water town culture and Mazu culture have become tourist attractions.