Celebrating 2024 Hubei Province Bird Love Week | A Look Back at Bird-watching Highlights in Shennongjia Forestry District in 2023

With a forest coverage rate of 91.1%,Shennongjia homes to over 460 bird species,accounting for 80% of total bird species in Hubei Province (580 species)and over 30% of the nation's total.

Shennongjia is an important transit point for migratory birds and a unique bird-watching destination.

In recent years, the dedicated efforts of the Administration of Shennongjia National Park and the Forestry District Forestry Administration in biodiversity preservation and monitoring, as well as the altruistic devotion of avian advocacy groups and passionate bird watchers have borne a bountiful harvest of achievements in avian monitoring.

According to different data sources, birdwatchers in Shennongjia documented a remarkable total of 360 species of wild birds in 2023, spanning 67 families in 19 orders, constituting a substantial 76% of the recorded bird species in the Shennongjia Forestry District. Excluding two bird sightings, namely the Turdus hortulorum and Monticola gularis, there remain nine species — Columba rupestris, Apus nipalensis, Blythipicus pyrrhotis, Pericrocotus divaricatus, Corvus frugilegus, Alauda arvensis, Hemixos castanonotus, Phylloscopus armandii, and Enicurus maculatus — whose records necessitate further validation.

Within the same period, sightings also included many species classified as protected and threatened birds in Shennongjia as follows:

8 species of birds under first-level national protection: Syrmaticus reevesii, Mergus squamatus, Ciconia nigra, Clanga clanga, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Aquila chrysaetos, and Emberiza aureola.

53 species of birds under second-level national protection: Tragopan temminckii, Pucrasia macrolopha, Chrysolophus pictus, Anser cygnoides, Mergellus albellus, Aix galericulata, Treron sieboldii, Centropus sinensis, Grus grus, Ibidorhyncha struthersii, Pandion haliaetus, Pernis ptilorhynchus, Aviceda leuphotes, Spilornis cheela, Aquila fasciata, Accipiter trivirgatus, Accipiter soloensis, Accipiter gularis, Accipiter virgatus, Accipiter nisus, Accipiter gentilis, Circus spilonotus, Circus cyaneus, Circus melanoleucos, Milvus migrans, Butastur indicus, Buteo hemilasius, Buteo buteo, Falco tinnunculus, Falco amurensis, Falco subbuteo, Falco peregrinus, Parus davidi, Otus lettia, Otus scops, Strix nivicolum, Glaucidium brodiei, Glaucidium cuculoides, Garrulax canorus, Lanthocincla lunulata, Garrulax ocellatus, Pterorhinus berthemyi, Trochalopteron elliotii, Leiothrix lutea, Lioparus chrysotis, Cholornis paradoxus, Sinosuthora conspicillata, Zosterops erythropleurus, Certhia tianquanensis, Luscinia svecica, Calliope calliope, Cyornis brunneatus, Niltava davidi, and Latoucheornis siemsseni

One IUCN Critically Endangered (CR) bird species: Emberiza aureola

Three IUCN Endangered (EN) bird species: Syrmaticus reevesii, Mergus squamatus, and Aquila nipalensis

Seven IUCN Vulnerable (VU) bird species: Anser cygnoides, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Halcyon pileata, Corvus torquatus, Cyornis brunneatus, and Emberiza rustica

Three IUCN Near Threatened (NT) bird species: Anas falcata, Cyanoptila cumatilis, and Certhia tianquanensis

In 2023, Shennongjia Forestry District welcomed 11 newly documented bird species, including two species of birds under second-level national protection: Mergellus albellus and Cyornis brunneatus.

List of New Bird Species Found in Shennongjia in 2023:

On January 9, 2023, during a survey at Shennongjia National Park's Ramsar site, Dajiuhu wetland, Ma Guofei and Yang Kaihua, the winter waterfowl monitoring personnel, documented the presence of Mergellus albellus, a bird species under the second-level national protection. This species, once abundant north of the Yangtze River in China, is now rare, demanding heightened conservation measures due to its dwindling population.

2 Anas acuta

On February 25, 2023, bird enthusiast Huang Jianhua spotted Anas acuta for the first time in Yangri. Then, on March 4, 2023, Yang Kaihua, the keen birdwatcher, also observed Anas acuta at Dajiuhu wetland. Historically widespread and abundant in China, Anas acuta has suffered population declines primarily due to hunting practices and environmental degradation. The pressing call for conservation measures to protect the species’ habitats and population is clear and immediate.

3 Prunella collaris

On March 15, 2023, Shennongjia National Park staff utilized infrared cameras to capture the first-ever sighting of Prunella collaris. Prunella collaris, an inhabitant of alpine regions, typically resides amidst high-altitude coniferous forests and rugged landscapes at elevations of 2,200 to 3,100 meters. Due to its preference for secluded areas and elusive nature, spotting this bird in the Shennongjia region is particularly challenging. It often hides in dense shrubbery, well away from the disturbances of human presence.

4 Phyonoprogne rupestris

On March 17 and June 5, 2023, the bird survey team at Shennongjia National Park documented sightings of Phyonoprogne rupestris on the territory of Shuangping Management Station (Shibali Changxia Nature Reserve) and Xiagu Management and Conservation Center. These sightings mark the first occurrences of Phyonoprogne rupestris in the Shennongjia region and the second and third sightings within Hubei Province.

5 Zoothera dixoni

The presence of Zoothera dixoni was officially confirmed on April 12, following extensive verification efforts. Shennongjia National Park meticulously retrieved and analyzed data from field-installed infrared cameras, revealing compelling photos and videos capturing Zoothera dixoni in action. Later, in late April, bird-watching enthusiast Huang Jianhua documented the species for the second time. In mid-May, during the 4th "Shennongjia National Park Cup" Bird-watching Competition, the Huyu Aoxiang Team also added to the records with their sighting of Zoothera dixoni. Moreover, a notable encounter on June 10 revealed a trio of Zoothera dixoni at the base of the Shennong Valley in Shennongding area.

6 Prunella immaculata

On April 23, the team at Shennongjia National Park captured footage of Prunella immaculata using infrared camera surveillance. Following the 2020 Bird-watching Competition, a participant shared a photo of a potential Prunella immaculata in the Wechat group, sparking debate and intrigue. This observation has since evolved into a rare and significant occurrence.

7 Charadrius mongolus

On May 8, 2023, bird enthusiast Chen Zisong made a groundbreaking observation of Charadrius mongolus in Yangri Town, marking a novel sighting in the Shennongjia Forestry District. Nestled at the eastern foot of the Shennongjia Mountains and the east end of Daba Mountain, Yangri Town boasts diverse habitats at an average altitude of about 500 meters, including forests, river valleys, and alluvial flats, rendering it a favorable route for migratory birds.

8 Surniculus dicruroides

On May 29, 2023, Chen Zisong spotted a Surniculus dicruroides for the first time in Songbai Town, a sighting reaffirmed by the bird survey team at Shennongtan within the territory of Muyu Management and Conservation Center of Shennongjia National Park. Throughout July, local birdwatchers continued to observe Surniculus dicruroides multiple times in Songbai Town. Typically found in Southwestern China, areas south of the Yangtze River, and Hainan, Surniculus dicruroides displayed unusual behavior during the 2023 breeding season by frequenting various regions of Shennongjia and its surrounding protected areas, where their mating behaviors were even captured in action. This season’s repeated observations suggest a bold northward expansion of their range.

9 Cyornis brunneatus

On July 6, 2023, the bird survey team at Shennongjia National Park documented multiple instances of Cyornis brunneatus calls in Wanchaoshan Nature Reserve, Laojun Mountain, and surrounding areas, marking a significant new sighting of this species in the park. The Cyornis brunneatus, a rare summer visitor to East, Central, and South China, is distinguished by its reliance on mature, native lowland forests — a habitat increasingly under threat. This vulnerability to habitat destruction has placed the bird on a precarious edge, reflected in its inclusion as a species under national second-level protection in China's List of State Key Protected Wild Animals in 2021.

10 Hirundapus caudacutus

On September 7, bird-watching enthusiast Fu Hui spotted Hirundapus caudacutus in Wushan Village, Yangri Town. Hirundapus caudacutus, a summer migratory bird species, typically embarks on its northward migration in April and May, then retraces its path southward in September and October. Their migration journey traverses Northeast, North, and Central China toward warmer climes in the southeast to overwinter. The sighting of Hirundapus caudacutus in this instance likely indicates the passage of a migratory flock navigating the skies of Shennongjia on their seasonal journey south.

11 Mergus merganser

On December 6, Ma Guofei, a member of the Shennongjia National Park team, made a notable ornithological entry by documenting a female Mergus merganser at Lake No. 5 in the Dajiuhu Wetland, a fresh addition to the avifauna records of Shennongjia. This initial sighting was further substantiated during January 2024’s nationwide census of wintering waterfowl, where two additional specimens of this species were observed, affirming its presence in the region.

On February 6, avid birdwatcher Huang Jianhua had the remarkable experience of spotting and documenting the elusive Tichodroma muraria in Shennongjia along the road to Shennongjia Hongping Airport. This rare sighting was not an isolated event; the very next day, the distinctive bird was once again documented in close proximity.

On February 21, while bird-watching, Huang Jianhua captured the sight of a Ciconia nigra soaring through the skies. Additionally, on December 26, fellow birdwatcher Mei Junfeng had a serendipitous encounter with a trio of passing Ciconia nigra in Yangri Town.

On February 25, bird enthusiast Li Wei had the extraordinary sighting of a Grus grus in the farmland of Changfang Village, Songluo Township. This observation suggests that the Grus grus might have strayed from its usual flock.

On April 2, in a rare forest encounter in Yangri Town, bird-watching enthusiast Fu Hui documented the presence of two Charadrius dubius, a species seldom observed in Shennongjia.

During the 4th "Shennongjia National Park Cup" Bird-watching Competition on May 13, several teams — including the Shanghai Feiyu, Changsha Yebao, and Beijing Feiyu — were delighted to spot the elusive Suthora fulvifrons. This sighting, which was substantiated by many other ornithology aficionados later, marks only the second occasion that this species has graced Hubei Province with its presence since its initial observation in May 2017.

During the 4th "Shennongjia National Park Cup" Bird-watching Competition on May 13, multiple teams, including the Yichang Bird-watching Team, Yichang Linyuan Team, Chutian Feiyu Team, and Shenniao Team, documented the presence of Cettia castaneocoronata at the Golden Monkey Ridge in Shennongding area. This marks the second sighting of Cettia castaneocoronata in Shennongjia since its initial discovery in Hubei Province in 2020.

On May 23, the keen eyes of bird-watching enthusiast Yang Kaihua identified a Columba hodgsonii in Qingtian Village, Muyu Town, a sighting that follows the species’ first documentation by Sun Jianhua at Monkey Stone, Shennongding, on September 3, 2022.

On May 30, Yu Jie, avian aficionado Yu Jie, was treated to a rare sighting of the Chrysococcyx maculatus in the Dajiuhu wetland, an encounter people hadn't experienced for several years.

On May 31, bird-watching enthusiast Mei Junfeng documented a sighting of Ninox japonica at Chimaguan in Songbai Town, a rarely-seen species in the Shennongjia region.

On June 11, fellow enthusiasts Ma Guofei and Huang Jianhua observed and recorded a Cettia major at the entrance of Shennong Valley within the Shennongding Scenic Area.

On June 26, bird-watching enthusiast Huang Jianhua spotted a male Hodgsonius phoenicuroides in the Shennongding Scenic Area, a sighting that stands out as a rarity in the Shennongjia Forestry District in recent years. On October 11, Huang Jianhua and Yu Jie encountered a female of the same species in Qingtian Village, Muyu Town.

On the morning of September 8, Tan Shenfeng from the Laojunshan Agency of the Administration of Shennongjia National Park uploaded an image captured by a stationary camera at Mucheng Xigou Dam, which was later verified as the seldom-seen Ixobrychus flavicollis.

On October 7, a video of a Turnix tanki was circulated in a bird newsgroup by Huang Jianhua, following a rescue operation by the local villagers of Panshui Village, Songbai Town the same day; the following day, Liu Jingjun discovered a deceased adult Turnix tanki in his office building, a rare occurrence in Shennongjia.

On November 7, bird-watching enthusiast Mei Junfeng documented the presence of a trio of female Mergus squamatus at the Yutou River Bridge section in Yangri Town. This observation is particularly noteworthy as it represents the second instance of this species being documented in the region, following the initial sighting of a female Mergus squamatus in Dajiuhu Wetland on November 26, 2022, and it is the first such record for the year 2023.

On November 15, Mei Junfeng spotted a sub-adult Larus vegae in Yangri Town, marking the first recorded instance of this species in Shennongjia in several years.

On December 6, Ma Guofei, a staff member at Shennongjia National Park, chanced upon a Turdus atrogularis in the Dajiuhu Wetland. This individual, foraging alongside Turdus naumanni and Turdus eunomus, was unique in its plumage, sporting a black-feathered chest and throat contrasted by red tail coverts, suggesting a possible hybridization with other Turdus species. Expert consultations validating this hypothesis have precluded its classification as a novel species. Nonetheless, the discovery remains a significant addition to the ornithological records.

On December 11, Peng Hong, an avid birdwatcher, noted the presence of over 20 Eophona personata along the mountainous trail connecting Shennongjia Hongping Airport with Hongju Village. This observation was corroborated by enthusiasts Duan Yu and Peng Hong on December 17 and 25, respectively.（By Ma Guofei and Yu Huiliang）