More than 200 Chinese mergansers spotted in Yangtze River's Yichang section
More than 200 Chinese mergansers have been spotted in the Yichang area of the Yangtze River.
TroibNews 
The recent 2024 winter bird survey in central China's Hubei Province recorded over 200 Chinese mergansers, a national first-class protected species, in the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. Additionally, the survey revealed two new habitats for these birds.
Yichang City, situated at the confluence of the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, features a 232-kilometer riverbank. In recent years, Yichang has focused on developing "green ecological corridors" along the river, establishing itself as a model city for ecological protection initiatives.
These measures have significantly enhanced the ecological environment in the Yichang section, transforming it into a vital wintering ground for waterfowl.
The week-long survey encompassed five national wetland parks, one provincial wetland park, and a provincial nature reserve in the Yichang region.
Overall, 9,347 birds were recorded, representing 112 species across 16 orders and 42 families. Among the findings were 208 Chinese mergansers and seven black storks.
New bird species were documented in various wetland parks, including the bull-headed shrike, osprey, and Eurasian wigeon, spotted in Yidu Tianlongwan, Zhijiang Jinhu, and Yuanan Juhe national wetland parks, respectively.
Professor Li Xiang from Huazhong Agricultural University, who participated in the survey, mentioned that the population of Chinese mergansers in Yichang has been on the rise over the last three years.
This species has been seen not only in the Yichang section of the Yangtze but also in the Huangbai River, a Yangtze tributary, showcasing the success of ecological restoration efforts in the Huangbai River basin and the continuous improvement of the Yangtze River's ecosystem.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
Yichang City, situated at the confluence of the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, features a 232-kilometer riverbank. In recent years, Yichang has focused on developing "green ecological corridors" along the river, establishing itself as a model city for ecological protection initiatives.
These measures have significantly enhanced the ecological environment in the Yichang section, transforming it into a vital wintering ground for waterfowl.
The week-long survey encompassed five national wetland parks, one provincial wetland park, and a provincial nature reserve in the Yichang region.
Overall, 9,347 birds were recorded, representing 112 species across 16 orders and 42 families. Among the findings were 208 Chinese mergansers and seven black storks.
New bird species were documented in various wetland parks, including the bull-headed shrike, osprey, and Eurasian wigeon, spotted in Yidu Tianlongwan, Zhijiang Jinhu, and Yuanan Juhe national wetland parks, respectively.
Professor Li Xiang from Huazhong Agricultural University, who participated in the survey, mentioned that the population of Chinese mergansers in Yichang has been on the rise over the last three years.
This species has been seen not only in the Yichang section of the Yangtze but also in the Huangbai River, a Yangtze tributary, showcasing the success of ecological restoration efforts in the Huangbai River basin and the continuous improvement of the Yangtze River's ecosystem.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
