Zhengzhou, a perfect stopover for migratory birds

In November this year, a group of about 100 cormorants appeared on a shoal in the middle of the Yellow River on the west side of Zhengzhou-Xinxiang Yellow River Bridge. The cormorants live peacefully with egrets, sand gulls and wild ducks. As migratory birds, cormorants stay in Zhengzhou for some time every November when they migrate south.

photo/Ma Jian

Now it is time for all kinds of migratory birds to move south. The Zhengzhou section of the Yellow River is bustling again. Whooper swans and cygnets have also been observed to stay in Beilong Lake. The ecological improvement in Zhengzhou is attracting more and more birds.

At the confluence of the Jalu River and Suoxu River, where the golden waters are shallowly wavy, egrets and mallards forage in shallow waters at this time last year.

photo/Ma Jian

In the Yellow River Beach Park of Huiji District, birds living in the wetland are mainly egrets, herons, ducks, white spoonbills and wild cormorants. Since 2019, on the basis of promoting the comprehensive improvement of ecological environment in the Yellow River beach area for many years in a row, Huiji District has invested 25,000 man-time and RMB 78 million yuan to clean up and renovate illegal construction such as "greenhouses", pulled out 6,200 mu of centralized contiguous fish ponds, cleaned up 78 scattered artificial fish ponds, and spread more than 6,000 kilograms of grass seeds. A total of 5,400 mu of wetlands were restored, and the greening rate of the beach area was significantly increased, further restoring the wetland ecosystem.

photo/Ma Jian

The ecology along the bank of the Yellow River is getting better and better, and there are more and more birds living here, such as egrets, herons, wild ducks and pheasants. During the migration season, birds such as swans, black storks and wild geese often settle here. The appearance of these birds is the most powerful proof of the ecological restoration of the Yellow River.