The first wave of southbound migratory birds has landed in Guangdong, marking the beginning of a splendid birdwatching season. It is expected that the peak of migratory bird arrivals will occur in December.

Recently, within the Nan'ao Migratory Bird Provincial Nature Reserve in Guangdong, amidst a large flock of overwintering migratory birds, an exciting discovery was made – a Chinese Crested Tern, a nationally protected and critically endangered species, was spotted. This marks the first time in 18 years, since the discovery of the Greater Crested Terns in the Nan'ao Migratory Bird Provincial Nature Reserve in 2006, that a precious bird has been observed.

On the morning of October 11th, a bird monitoring team identified 21 Black-faced Spoonbills, another nationally protected species, that have arrived in Shenzhen for their winter stay. These are the first Black-faced Spoonbills to reach Shenzhen for the winter this year.

In recent days, mangrove wetlands in the Shenzhen Bay and Futian have witnessed the first arrivals of southbound migratory birds, primarily consisting of geese, ducks, and waders. High-definition cameras set up in the wetlands have captured lively scenes of "birds sharing space" and "birds lining up for rest."

As we step into October, the Nansha Wetland in Guangzhou has become a temporary home for a significant number of Great Egrets, Grey Herons, Purple Herons, Northern Shovelers, and more. Furthermore, cities such as Zhanjiang, Shaoguan, and Meizhou have also welcomed the migration of various bird species, with some rare birds gaining local popularity and becoming "internet sensations."

Every year, from October to February, Guangdong becomes a temporary haven for a multitude of migratory birds as they stopover on their journey or winter here. The sight of "thousands of birds in flight and migratory birds singing with joy" is a common spectacle.

Guangdong, located in the southern part of Chinese mainland, boasts a coastline spanning 4,114 kilometers, the longest in the country. The province is endowed with diverse natural ecosystems and abundant avian resources. According to statistics, Guangdong has documented 584 species of wild birds in its history, of which 412 are migratory birds, constituting 70.5%, including 23 species designated as nationally protected wild animals.

"Winter is the primary period for bird protection, as migratory birds stay in the province for an extended duration, requiring higher energy intake and habitat quality," noted Zhang Qiang, Deputy Director of the Institute of Zoology at Guangdong Academy of Sciences. He emphasized the need to make every effort to ensure the safety of wintering birds during their stay in the province and meet their habitat requirements. Additionally, during the migration seasons in spring and autumn, it is crucial to be vigilant about the arrival, departure, and transit of migratory birds, determining peak migration times and enhancing patrolling to minimize human-bird conflicts.

It is worth noting that there are about nine major flyways worldwide, with four of them passing through China. These routes establish three migratory bird zones within China: the eastern, central, and western zones. Guangdong is a significant region for migratory birds, as it serves as a crucial stopover point for birds traveling along both the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Western Pacific Flyway. Additionally, it is a part of the South China subzone, which is an important area for bird migration and conservation efforts.

首批南迁候鸟抵粤！广东迎来观鸟季

今年首批南迁的候鸟已抵粤，广东迎来了美丽的观鸟季，预计今年12月前后将迎来候鸟迁徙的高峰。

近日，广东南澳候鸟省级自然保护区在大批越冬迁徙的大凤头燕鸥群中，发现一只国家一级保护野生动物中华凤头燕鸥。这是自2006年南澳候鸟省级自然保护区发现大凤头燕鸥以来，历经18年之久首次监测到珍稀濒危物种中华凤头燕鸥。

10月11日清晨，鸟类监测团队在深圳河口发现21只来深越冬的国家一级保护野生动物黑脸琵鹭，这是今年首批到达深圳越冬的黑脸琵鹭。

近期，深圳湾及福田红树林湿地已迎来今年首批南迁候鸟，以雁鸭类、鸻鹬类为主。通过野外高清摄像机可以见到保护区鱼塘已出现“鸟挤鸟”“排排睡”的热闹场面。

进入10月，广州南沙湿地迎来了大量大白鹭、苍鹭、草鹭、琵嘴鸭等首批候鸟。此外，湛江、韶关、梅州等多地也迎来了候鸟迁徙季节，一些珍稀鸟类频频成为当地“网红”。

每年10月至次年2月，是大量候鸟来粤越冬或迁徙途中停歇休息的季节，“万鸟齐飞，候鸟欢歌”的画面屡见不鲜。

广东位于中国大陆南部，大陆海岸线长4114千米，居全国首位，拥有多样的自然生态系统和丰富的候鸟资源。据统计，全省历史记录有野生鸟类584种，其中具有迁徙属性鸟类412种，占70.5%，包括23种国家一级保护野生动物。

“冬季是候鸟保护主要时段，候鸟在我省停留时间长，在能量摄取、栖息地质量等方面要求较高。”广东省科学院动物研究所副所长张强认为，须尽努力保护冬季候鸟在我省停留期间的安全，并满足其栖息需求，其次在春秋迁徙季候鸟到达、离开及过境时，要明确迁徙高峰时机，加强巡护，减少人鸟冲突。

据悉，目前全球约有9条候鸟迁徙路线，其中有4条路线穿越我国，在我国形成东部、中部和西部3个候鸟迁徙区。广东省处于东部候鸟迁徙区，即东亚-澳大利西亚迁徙路线和西太平洋迁徙路线中段地带，广东属华南区的闽广沿海亚区。

文、图 | 记者 张爱丽 通讯员 林荫
译 | 刘佳慧