With four new birds documented, the record of birds in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) has reached 352, according to a release from the 13th XTBG Birding Festival from November 19-23.
The festival comprised four main activities: a 24-hour birdwatching competition, a biodiversity-themed cultural and creative product exhibition, the Bird Pond Forum, and a series of popular science lectures. Thousands of visitors visited the cultural and creative exhibition. The science lectures were live-streamed, attracting over 2,000 online viewers.
Prof. Zhang Jiaolin, CPC secretary and deputy director of XTBG, welcomed bird-watching enthusiasts from all regions to come to the garden for bird watching and touring. He said that the birding festival showcases XTBG’s achievements in biodiversity conservation and is a significant practice of scientific conservation plus public participation.
At the 24-hour bird watching competition, a total of 170 valid bird species were recorded, making the valid bird records in XTBG reach 352.
Significantly, the festival led to the discovery of four new bird species records for XTBG, including Luscinia svecica, Phylloscopus ricketti, Locustella certhiola, and Staphida torqueola.
Six popular science lectures were held, covering topics such as the intimate relationship between birds and plants, the appeal of birdwatching, global birdwatching visions, developing a birdwatching economy for ecological protection, citizen science applications, and localization in publishing and cultural creations.
The first Xishuangbanna bird pond forum was held during the festival, with participation of bird pond owners, local government representatives, and others. With expert lectures concerning bird pond construction and development, the participants had in-depth discussion on management experiences, festival organization, and the birdwatching economy.
Since 2011, XTBG has successfully hosted 13 birding festivals, which has become a gathering for nature enthusiasts across China.
24-hour bird watching competition.
Exhibition of cultural and creative products.
Bird pond forum.
Participants pose a group photo.
Birds recorded at the festival.
Birds recorded at the festival.
Birds recorded at the festival.
Birds recorded at the festival.
