Black-naped terns watching for fish on the edge of a dyke. Photo by Chen Bo of People’s Daily Online
People’s Daily Online Xiamen, July 28th (Chen Bo, Yu Nailiu) Recently, groups of terns visited the beach opposite the Convention and Exhibition Center on East Huandao Road in Xiamen. Foraging and playing near a flood control dam attracted many bird lovers to watch.
It is reported that the species of birds observed this time are mainly white-fronted terns, black-naped terns and pink terns, which are summer migratory birds in Xiamen and fly to Xiamen to breed every summer. Among them, black-naped terns and pink terns generally live on uninhabited islands and reefs far away from the shoreline. It is rare to come to the beach this time to have close contact with humans.
“The best time to watch terns in Xiamen is from June to August every year. The ecological environment of the waters near the Xiamen Convention and Exhibition Center has been getting better and better in recent years. The flocks of terns that feed on fish. Whenever the tide is high, flocks of terns will be dispatched to forage, and the scene is quite spectacular.” Chen Hao, vice president of Xiamen Bird Watching Association, said that citizens and tourists were watching the terns Try to watch from a distance on the inside of the seawall notice board, and do not exceed the stone monument. Young terns often wait at the end of the seawall to wait for their parent birds to return from fishing. Watching too close will interfere with their feeding of young birds. At the same time, it is hoped that relevant departments can temporarily set up a cordon to protect the reproduction of terns from being affected.
At present, terns have entered the breeding season, their nests are generally built on the ground, especially white-fronted terns like to breed on the beach. Therefore, citizens and tourists who pass through tern-infested areas should pay attention to their feet, and do not accidentally step on or pick up eggs that terns have just laid.
Two pink terns frolic above the beach. Photo by Chen Bo of People’s Daily Online
White-fronted terns return from fishing to feed their young. Photo by Chen Bo of People’s Daily Online
The young terns gather at the end of the embankment, waiting for their parents to return from fishing. Photo by Chen Bo of People’s Daily Online
Pink tern fishing at sea. Photo by Chen Bo of People’s Daily Online
A young white-fronted tern fighting for food. Photo by Chen Bo of People’s Daily Online
Flock of terns hovering over the sea. Photo by Chen Bo of People’s Daily Online
Black-naped tern. Photo by Chen Bo of People’s Daily Online
At the end of the dam, various species of terns gather. Photo by Chen Bo of People’s Daily Online
Flock of low-flying terns. Photo by Chen Bo of People’s Daily Online
Flock of terns riding the wind and waves. Xiamen Bird Watching AssociationPhoto courtesy
Plumaged white-fronted and black-naped terns. People’s Daily Online Photo by Chen Bo