Birding info of Shaanxi, China
Shaanxi Province, one of cradles of ancient Chinese civilization, is located in the very heart of China, covering an area of 205,800 square kilometers. The province stretches 880km between north and south, from the desert in Inner Mongolia in the north to Dabashan mountain of Sichuan Province in the south with varied terrains, deserts, plateau, plains, basins and mountainous areas.
The large distance between south and north also leads to big difference in climate and topography between north and south. The northern part of the province mainly features deserts and Loess Plateau while there are more mountains in the southern part, where the bio-resources are extremely rich. Qinling Mountains and Dabashan Mountains are known as "biological gene banks" for its rich biodiversity with 604 wildlife species including 69 endangered species. The middle reaches of Yellow River flows by the province in the north. The diverse topography and climate have contributed to the formation of different habitats for various bird species. The survey shows that there are 465 bird species (69 families from 18 orders) in Shaanxi, of which 88 species are summer migrants, 68 species winter birds, 124 species traveling migrants, 10 species of vagrant birds and 175 species of resident birds. The most numerous bird species are Turdidae (43 species), Anatidae (28 species), Scolopacidae (22 species) and Ardeidae (18 species). Most bird species in Shaaxi are from Palaearctic realm. There are as many as 35 Chinese endemic bird species recorded in Shaaxi Province, taking up 30% of China’s total. There are 18 endangered bird species in Shaaxi, of which 3 bird species are quite numerous.
The Capital of Shaaxi Province is Xi'an, which has a history of 3,100 years. The Climate of Shaaxi Province is continental monsoonal climate with distinctive seasons and big differences between north and south, temperate dry climate in the north, warm temperate semi-humid in the central area and subtropical humid climate in the south mountainous area.
Some Important Birding Sites in Shaaxi
Foping Nature Reserve
Covering 35,000 hectares, Foping Nature Reserve is located on the south slope of Qinling Mountains in northwest Foping County with four protection stations. The reserve was established in 1979 and upgraded to national level reserve in 1986. The major types of habitats are temperate deciduous broadleaf, mixed broadleaf and conifer, evergreen and scrubs with less than 10% farmlands. In 2004, the reserve was included in the network reserves of Man and Biosphere Programs by UNESCO. Statistics show that 211 bird species (15 orders and 40 families) have been found in this area, including 96 bird species from palearctic realm and 77 bird species from the Oriental realm. Such as Temminck's Tragopan, Golden Pheasant, Speckled Wood-Pigeon, Large Hawk-Cuckoo, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Chinese Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Northern Goshawk, Tawny Fish-Owl, Black-capped Kingfisher, Crested Kingfisher, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Fire-capped Tit, Pere David's Tit, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Brown Bush Warbler, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler, Bianchi's Warbler, Martens's Warbler, Sooty Tit, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Great Parrotbill, Spectacled Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Barred Laughingthrush, Chinese Babax, Indian Blue Robin, Blackthroat, Slaty Bunting, etc.
Yangxian Crested Ibis Reserve
Known as the Hometown of Crest Ibis, Yangxian County is located in the southwest of Hanzhong. In 1988, Yangxian Crested Ibis Conservation and Observation Station were set up. So far Yangxian County has recorded 210 bird species, including some rare birds such as Great Bustard(Otis tarda), Black Stork, Golden Eagle, Mandarin Duck, Whooper Swan, etc. The breeding area for Crest Ibis is located in medium and low elevation mountainous area, where the crested ibis come here around January to breed.
Hongjian Nur Lake
Located in northwest Shenmu County, Hongjian Nur Lake is the largest desert lake in Shaanxi and is an inland alpine freshwater lake. Being a remote and sparsely-populated area, this lake attracted lots of water birds to come here for wintering or breeding. From 2005 on, large number of Relict Gulls have come here to breed. Now the population of relict gulls takes up 80% of the world total population and thus this area has become the largest breeding ground for relict gulls. According to the previous surveys there are 134 bird species from 31 families of 15 orders recorded in in Hongjiannao wetlands and surrounding area, of which 55 species are water birds from 14 families of 7 orders. Such as Eurasian Spoonbill, Mandarin Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Tufted Duck, Black-necked Grebe, Black-winged Stilt, Far Eastern Curlew, Oriental Plover, Kentish Plover, Relict Gull, Short-eared Owl, Black Kite, Pied Harrier, Amur Falcon, Red-throated Thrush, etc.
Changqing Nature Reserve
Changqing Nature Reserve, which was set up in 1994 and ecame a national reserve in 1995, is located south slope of Qinling Mountains. Within the reserve, there are virgin forest, second growth forest and logged areas. Though heavily logged, there is still considerable specious diversity in this reserve. The major task of the reserve is to protect giant panda and its habitats. As a hot spot for protecting birds, the reserve has recorded 203 bird species by far. Inside the reserve, there are some simple roadways going to different habitats. They serve as excellent birding routes in the reserve. Birds like Chinese Bamboo-Partridge, Temminck's Tragopan, Golden Pheasant, Crested Ibis, Chinese Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Tawny Fish-Owl, Crested Kingfisher, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Yellow-bellied Tit, Grey-crested Tit, Black-bibbed Tit, Pygmy Cupwing, Mountain Bulbul, Light-vented Bulbul, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Silver-throated Tit, Sooty Tit, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Barred Laughingthrush, White-throated Laughingthrush, Red-billed Leiothrix, Chestnut Thrush, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Russet Sparrow, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Slaty Bunting, Yellow-throated Bunting, etc.
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