In recent years, the water area and quality of the Shaanxi Hongjian Lake National Nature Reserve have been significantly impacted by both natural factors and human activities. To protect the local ecology and provide a safer and more comfortable environment for migratory birds, various measures have been implemented by the local authorities.
Recently, at the Shaanxi Hongjian Lake National Nature Reserve, staff have been using machinery to turn over and dry out the saline-alkaline land along the lakeshore. By spring 2025, they plan to plant grass seeds to enhance the vegetation coverage around Hongjian Lake.
Since 2020, the reserve has been actively managing the wetland along the lakeside, implementing a 500-meter buffer zone where they have been planting salt-tolerant plants like reeds and seepweed to improve the surrounding ecological environment, providing habitats and foraging grounds for birds.
Shaanxi Hongjian Lake is located in a semi-arid region where the annual evaporation rate exceeds the amount of precipitation. Due to the unstable water sources flowing into the lake, the area is facing a reduction in size.
He Heping, director of the Shaanxi Hongjian Lake National Nature Reserve Management Bureau, shared that efforts have been underway since 2016 to increase water volume. This includes comprehensive management and dredging of three main rivers within Shenmu to boost inflow, the establishment of six artificial rainfall sites to enhance precipitation, and coordination with the Zhasak Reservoir in Inner Mongolia for ecological water replenishment. As a result, over the past nine years, a total of 12.6 million cubic meters of water has been added, expanding the lake’s surface area from 31.5 square kilometers in 2015 to 37.1 square kilometers today.
Importantly, Shaanxi Hongjian Lake serves as a crucial breeding habitat for the endangered black-necked crane, a species that is highly selective about its breeding grounds, typically nesting on islands in desert or semi-desert lakes. To create a suitable breeding environment for these cranes, the reserve has taken steps to restore and protect the islands.
He Heping explained that each winter, adjustments are made to the habitat based on water level changes. For example, if the water level drops and creates a peninsula effect on the islands, they are separated. Conversely, if rising water submerges parts of the islands, soil is added for elevation, and surface vegetation is cleared to ensure that habitats remain sufficient and suitable. In 2021, there were approximately 2,000 nests; following several years of restoration, the count has stabilized between 4,800 and 4,900 nests in 2023 and 2024.
To further minimize the impact of human activities on the ecological environment and migratory birds, residents within the Shaanxi Hongjian Lake National Nature Reserve have been relocated.
As these protective measures continue to progress, there have been noticeable improvements in the ecological environment of the reserve, with both the variety and population of birds on the rise. Currently, the reserve is home to 195 bird species, including 12 first-class protected species and 33 second-class protected species.
In addition, the Shandong Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve has been significantly investing in technology to better study and protect rare migratory birds, ensuring their migration journeys and breeding processes are more successful.
With the help of infrared monitoring devices, the Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve can accurately identify migratory birds passing through, regardless of day or night, with real-time data transmission providing essential support for bird monitoring within the reserve.
Recent years have also seen a comprehensive application of infrared observation and AI identification technologies, enhancing field recordings and bird identification efforts. By utilizing “Internet + satellite positioning systems,” the reserve can track rare species such as the oriental white stork and the red-crowned crane, understanding key species’ distribution patterns and migration dynamics, thus providing efficient, precise data for scientific conservation efforts.
To refine their understanding of the migration routes of nationally protected birds like the oriental white stork, red-crowned crane, and white crane, the reserve has collaborated with universities. In 2024, they equipped 20 rare birds from five species with bands and satellite tracking devices to enhance monitoring capabilities.
With dynamic monitoring and real-time recording, researchers are better equipped to analyze the breeding habits and living conditions of migratory birds, significantly contributing to conservation efforts.
