My journey to Shennongjia, a stunning winter wonderland at 31 degrees north latitude, was nothing short of magical. Despite the snowfall having ceased days before our arrival, the "Roof of Central China" was still blanketed in a pristine white snow, with its peak, Shennongding, glistening in ice and snow.
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.
In March and April every year, the ice and snow have melted in the Dalongtan area of Shennongjia. After suddenly getting warmer, the weather has turned cold again. The Wushan salamanders (Liua shihi) are hidden deep among the stones. Driven by sexual impulse, they will go to extraordinary lengths to attract members of the opposite sex with their blood boiling, so that they can mate and reproduce. Their privacy is rarely invaded, and their tracks are always hard to detect. However, they will lay their eggs in a place that sunlight can reach under the water. Therefore, this season is also the right time to search for salamanders’ eggs and conduct research on their reproduction.
January 11, 2024, was the last day for the Administration of Shennongjia National Park to carry out the 2024 national synchronized survey of wintering waterbirds in the Dajiuhu Wetland of International Importance, with the main survey area being the Pingqian Reservoir.
On January 6, Shennongjia bird watchers recorded an almost green forest bird in the Xiaguping Tujia Ethnic Township, which was then identified as a female Chloropsis hardwickii melliana by comparing the photos taken with the bird data.