Bird-watchers flock to Qinghai Lake event

A remarkable bird-watching and educational event, "Beautiful Qinghai, Bird-watching at the Great Lake," was held from May 25 to 29 around Qinghai Lake, the largest lake in China.

The event was organized by the Qinghai Lake Scenic Area Protection and Management Administration and the Qinghai Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau, with the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve Management Bureau and the China Bird Watching Organizations' Joint Action Platform (Rosefinch Association) serving as co-organizers.

Chen Dehui, deputy director of the Qinghai Lake Scenic Area Protection and Management Administration, said the event aimed to highlight the ecological protection of Qinghai Lake. The ultimate goal, he said, is to establish Qinghai Lake as a national park and an international ecotourism destination, promoting the concept of national parks and enriching bird monitoring efforts.

Through collaboration with Gangca county in Qinghai, organizers sought to create a consensus on building a distinctive high-altitude bird-watching brand, jointly exploring conservation priorities and new paths for green development, and fostering a vibrant atmosphere for the creation of the Qinghai Lake National Park's bird-watching brand.

Fifteen teams comprising 60 bird enthusiasts from 21 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across China — including frontline rangers from several nature reserves — participated in the event. Over a span of 77 hours, they conducted intensive bird observation activities around Qinghai Lake, covering the counties of Haiyan, Gangca and Gonghe.

On the morning of May 29, a results-sharing event was held in Xining, where awards were presented to the participating teams.

A total of 175 bird species were recorded during the event, including six species under national first-level protection and 23 species under national second-level protection.

The sharing session began with a review by Professor Chen Zhenning from Qinghai Normal University, who praised the dedication of all teams. He highlighted that the bird species list compiled during the event essentially encompassed most of the bird species observable in the Qinghai Lake protected area this season. Notably, the list included at least three new records for the nature reserve, marking a significant achievement.

One highlight was the Asian desert warbler, observed and photographed by one of the teams. This species is a new record for the province and was chosen as the top bird of the event.