Baotou: A paradise for migratory birds

Swans rest in Baotou's wetlands. [Photo/Baotou news network]

As recent temperatures continue to rise, Baotou city has entered its peak migratory bird return period, with various migratory birds spotted in multiple wetlands across the city.

Baotou is an important stopover on the "East Asia-Australasia" global migratory bird route, with thousands of birds migrating through the area from March to May each year.

To better understand the spring migration of birds, the Baotou Forestry and Grassland Resources Protection Station monitors the migration routes, habitats, and foraging grounds of these migratory birds. It also carries out prevention and control management to safeguard against epidemic sources and diseases. No cases of epidemic diseases or abnormal deaths of wild animals have been found in Baotou this year.

This year, a total of 771 birds across 18 species were monitored in Baotou, including 324 level-two protected animals in China.

In recent years, the city has continuously strengthened its monitoring of wild birds and enhanced its epidemic safeguards. Monitoring data shows that from 2018 to 2023, the number of waterfowl stopping in Baotou has increased from 15,000 to over 46,000.

Two waterfowls have fun in Baotou's wetlands. [Photo/Baotou news network]