As the migratory birds begin their journey south, the 2024 Guangdong Migratory Bird Protection Initiative was officially launched on October 22 at the Cuixiang National Wetland Park in Zhongshan.
The Guangdong Provincial Forestry Bureau reported that this initiative, which started in 2019, has become a key brand activity in bird protection within the province. It aims to unite various social organizations and volunteers, encouraging more individuals to participate in protecting migratory birds.
Guided by the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Bureau and organized by the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Affairs Center and the Zhongshan Natural Resources Bureau, the event was themed “A Meeting in Guangdong: The Joy of Feathered Moments.” Representatives from ten birdwatching organizations within Guangdong, along with birdwatching enthusiasts, volunteers, and members of the community, were invited to attend. The event featured case studies on migratory bird protection and included the reading of a bird protection advocacy letter. Honorary certificates were presented to bird-loving groups and volunteers, along with flags to symbolize their commitment.
As October progresses, familiar faces like the Black-faced Spoonbill, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, and Greenshank have begun to arrive in Shenzhen’s Futian. In Shantou, at the Han River Estuary, many rare and endangered bird species have also made an appearance, including the Chinese Crested Tern, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Yellow-breasted Bunting, and the Great Egret. In Zhanjiang, numerous birds, such as Spoon-billed Sandpipers and Black-headed Gulls, have been spotted, while Haifeng in Shanwei welcomed nearly a hundred Crested Terns alongside other migratory birds like the Ivory Gull, Great Egret, Brown Shrike, and the Asian Brown Flycatcher.
With the arrival of cooler weather, the number of southbound migratory birds is expected to increase, creating a spectacular sight in southern Guangdong, often referred to as a “paradise for migratory birds.” Forestry departments across Guangdong will collaborate with local bird protection groups to implement a series of initiatives aimed at safeguarding migratory birds and their habitats.
As a significant region for migratory bird resources, Guangdong has adopted various measures, issuing multiple policy documents and collaborating with provinces to launch cross-regional protection actions for migratory bird corridors. Multi-department partnerships have helped establish a robust system for the protection and enforcement related to wild bird species.
According to a representative from the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Bureau, the province currently records 584 species of wild birds, including 412 migratory species. In recent years, the populations of wild birds have shown signs of recovery and growth. Guangdong plans to continue enhancing its migratory bird conservation efforts, focusing on biodiversity protection, bird banding stations, and disease monitoring, while strategically carrying out protective work for rare and endangered migratory birds.