Birding in Changchun City
Changchun is the capital and largest city of Jilin province, located in the northeast of the People's Republic of China, in the center of the Songliao Plain. Known as the cradle of the automobile industry in China, the city was the industrial base for automobiles. The first truck and sedan car in China were produced here.
Now the automobile production of the city takes up one fifth of the nation's total. With a forest coverage rate of about 80%, Changchun has very good environment for birds. Changchun has a four-season, monsoon-influenced, humid continental climate with cold, long and windy winter, relatively short summer, and hot and humid summer.
Some Important Birding Sites in Changchun
Jingyuetan National Forest Park
Located in the southeast of the city, the park covers 478km2 and has the largest artificial forest in Asia. Walking along the trails inside the park, we have chances of seeing Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Amur Falcon, Long-tailed Tit, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Eurasian Jay, Azure-winged Magpie, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Chinese Nuthatch, Naumann's Thrush, Pallas's Rosefinch, Yellow-throated Bunting, Yellow-browed Bunting, Black-faced Bunting, etc. By the side of the lake inside the park, it is possible to encounter Smew, Little Grebe, Ruddy Shelduck, and Grey Heron.
Nanhu Park
Built in 1933, Nanhu Park is the largest park inside Changchun City proper. The artificial lake covers 92 hectares and surrounded by lush vegetations. In spring, the lake is home to some water birds such as Mallard, Garganey, Common Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Chinese Pond Heron, etc. It is not difficult to see Dusky Thrush, Long-tailed Tit, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Brown-eared Bulbul, Chinese Nuthatch when you walk in the forest. Also, there are some other encounters such as Eyebrowed Thrush, Pale Thrush, Pallas's Rosefinch, Rustic Bunting, Bohemian Waxwing, and Yellow-throated Bunting.
West Lake/Xihu
Located in the suburban area in the west of the city, West Lake is only about 10 minutes driving distance from the China First Automobile Group. Each year from the end of March to the beginning of April, lots of migrating birds drop in here to feed including Greater White-fronted Goose, Spot-billed Duck, Tufted Duck, Falcated Duck, Northern Pintail, Baer's Pochard, Common Pochard, etc.
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