Yanqing Bird Wetland Nature Reserve

Yanqing Bird Wetland Nature Reserve

The Yanqing Bird Wetland Nature Reserve is located at Wild Duck Lake in Yanqing County, Beijing. Every spring, moving scenes unfold here, as over 150 species of birds—including swan geese, cormorants, and wild ducks—can be seen year-round. In March 2001, more than 400 swans settled here, making Wild Duck Lake a veritable bird paradise. It is reported that swans first returned to Wild Duck Lake in 1996, and since then, they have come here every year. As Wild Duck Lake features a typical landscape of lakes interspersed with wetlands, vast marshes, lush water plants, and abundant fish and shrimp, it boasts over 30,000 mu of stable open water surface and more than 50,000 mu of surrounding submerged areas and grasslands. Moreover, situated in the transitional zone from the North China Plain to the Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia plateaus, it has become an ideal habitat for birds and a crucial stopover site for migratory species. In 1997, to protect Wild Duck Lake, Yanqing County designated it as a county-level nature reserve. Large-scale tree planting and grass seeding efforts were carried out, and the water area was continuously expanded to provide better living conditions for birds. Special personnel were also assigned as bird protection supervisors. These measures have attracted an increasing number of birds. According to surveys, Wild Duck Lake is now home to 150-plus bird species across 42 families and 16 orders, including 3 national first-class protected animals—the black stork, great bustard, and golden eagle—and 16 national second-class protected animals such as the whooper swan and common crane, along with 60 species under first- or second-class protection in Beijing.