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As winter approaches, many rare waterfowl migrate south.

Located in the Pearl River Delta and bordering the South China Sea, Guangzhou has a distinct maritime climate, characterized by warmth and abundant rainfall. This makes Guangzhou an important habitat for migratory birds.

According to the Guangzhou Water Authority, the Institute of Zoology of the Guangdong Academy of Sciences has been conducting a systematic survey of waterbirds and aquatic ecosystems in 32 regions of the Pearl River water network since February 2023. 

A total of 165 bird species were recorded, including 53 species of waterfowl. Among them, there are five national key protected bird species and 19 key protected bird species in Guangdong province. These include the black stork (Ciconia nigra), a first-class national key protected bird known as the "panda of birds", and other rare waterbirds in Guangzhou such as the red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) and the long-billed plover (Charadrius placidus).

The Guangzhou Water Authority recommends ten bird-watching spots along Guangzhou's ecological belts for people to enjoy nature.

1. Beidisha Island (北帝沙岛) of Pearl River ecological belt 

Districts: Tianhe, Haizhu, Huangpu

Birds: egret, great egret, gray heron, night heron, pond heron 

2. Shenghuangzhou Island (圣皇洲岛) of Zengjiang (增江) ecological belt

District: Zengcheng 

Birds: egret, great egret, night heron

3. Changzhou Island (长洲岛) and Zhongshan Park, Xintanchong (新坦涌) ecological belt 

District: Huangpu 

Birds: egret, night heron, pond heron

4. East Side of Ersha Island (二沙岛), Ersha Island ecological belt 

Districts: Yuexiu, Tianhe

Birds: egret, night heron, pond heron

5. Baosheng Ecological Farm (宝升生态农场) of Hongqili (洪奇沥) waterway ecological belt

District: Nansha

Birds: egret, red-billed gull, greenshank, fan-tailed sandpiper, common sandpiper

6. Hai’ou Island (海鸥岛) Mangroves, Shiziyang (狮子洋) waterway ecological belt

District: Panyu

Birds: egret, great egret, night heron

7. Xianjiang River (县江河) of Yuanzhouwei (元洲围) ecological belt

District: Zengcheng

Birds: Egret, cattle egret, pond heron, yellow bittern

8. Dajisha (大吉沙) Island of Changzhou Island ecological belt

District: Huangpu 

Birds: cattle egret, egret, intermediate egret, greenshank

9. Xiahengli (下横沥) Mangroves of Xiahengli waterway ecological belt

District: Nansha

Birds: egret, black-winged stilt, great egret, common tern, pond heron

10. Downstream of Lixi Weir (李溪拦河坝), Liuxi River ecological belt

Districts: Baiyun, Huadu 

Birds: egret, kentish plover, common sandpiper

Source and photos: Guangzhou Daily

Author: Annie