Birding info of Ningxia, China
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, located in west of China, covers an area of 66,400
square kilometers. The Yellow River passes through the north-central Ningxia from south to the north. It is an inland province far from the ocean. The elevation of the autonomous region slopes down from south to north and 60% of its total territory is formed by mountains and plateau.
Lying on the connect region among the monsoon area, arid area and Qianghai-Tibet Plain, Ningxia has a unique, transitional physical environment which influenced by the semi-humid, semi-arid and arid climates. The autonomous region contains all ecosystems that exist in northwest China including grasslands, forests, deserts, wetlands and farmland. According to investigates, there are 471 vertebrate species have been recorded in Ningxia of which 320 species are aves that belonging to 49 families under 17 orders. Among them, 120 species are summer visitors, 96 species are passing migrant birds, 86 species are residents and 18 species wintering here. The province bird of Ningxia is Bule Eared Pheasant(Crossoptilon auritum) the endemic species to China.
Lying on the ancient Silk Road, Ningxia used to be an important Sino-western cultural exchange center. The capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is Yinchuan.
Some Important Birding Sites in Ningxia
Henanshan Nature Reserve
Lying on Yinchuan and Shizuishan City, Helanshan Nature Reserve covers an area of 206,266 hectares. Established in 1982 and upgraded to national level in 1988, the reserve aims to protect the raid forest ecosystem and the rare wildlife. The elevation of the reserve is between 1,400 meters to 3,500 meters. There are 690 species of higher plants that form the reserve various vegetation types. According to the investigate in 2010, 144 bird species have been recorded in the reserve which belongs to 39 families under 17 orders. Among them, 110 species are Palearctic ones, 19 species are Oriental ones and 14 species are extensively distributed. Such as Chukar, Hill Pigeon, Bearded Vulture, Black Vulture, Golden Eagle, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Amur Falcon, Shore Lark, Silver-throated Tit, Beijing Babbler, Pere David's Laughingthrush, Black-throated Thrush, Red-throated Thrush, Ala Shan Redstart, White-winged Redstart, Daurian Redstart, Pied Wheatear, Brown Accentor, Hawfinch, White-winged Grosbeak, Godlewski's Bunting, etc.
Sand Lake Wetlands
Located in the southwest of Yinpinluo county 56 kilometers away from Yinchuan, Sand Lake covers an area of 82 square kilometers of which 22 square kilometers is water area. The famous bird island consists of full-grown weeds and tens of thousands of birds nesting here. It has recorded 130 bird species including 18 species of residents, 51 species of summer breeders and 61 species of travelling birds. Such as Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Red-crested Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Pied Avocet, Eurasian Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Pallas's Gull, Whiskered Tern, Eurasian Spoonbill, Water Pipit, etc.
Liupanshan Nature Reserve
Established in 1982, Liupanshan Nature Reserve is located in Jingyuan, Guyuan and Longde Counties, covers 67,800 hectares. With 600 to 800 millimeters of annual precipitation, the reserve has the richest water resources in Ningxia. 788 species of higher plants from the humid vegetation community and semi-arid vegetation community distribute in the reserve. 154 bird species have been recorded in the reserve belonging to 36 families under 15 orders. Among them, 122 species are Palearctic ones, 20 species are Oriental ones and 12 species are extensively distributed, besides, 16 species are under national key protection. Such as Golden Pheasant, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eastern Buzzard, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Long-tailed Shrike, Spotted Nutcracker, Azure-winged Magpie, Sooty Bushtit, Elliot's Laughingthrush, Black Redstart, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Godlewski's Bunting, Black-faced Bunting, etc.
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