Scaly-sided mergansers found in Qingzhen for 1st time

Four scaly-sided mergansers are found on Qingzhen's Red Maple Lake. [Photo/gzqz.gov.cn]

During routine bird monitoring and patrol activities in Qingzhen city, Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, staff members from the city's bureau of natural resources and planning, along with Guiyang wildlife conservation station, made a discovery. For the first time, four scaly-sided mergansers, distinguished by their long bodies and slender, pointed wings, were identified on the Red Maple Lake.

Recognized as a first-class endangered species and afforded national protection, the scaly-sided merganser measures between 49 and 64 centimeters in length, primarily inhabiting the winter in the regions of the Yellow River, Yangtze River, and Pearl River basins.

This bird is unique to China and usually inhabits rivers or streams, feeding on fish and worms.

They are social animals with relatively high demand for the ecosystem, preferring to stay in places characterized by pristine water quality, abundant food resources, and minimal human disturbances.

In a concerted effort to prioritize the safeguarding of forest resources and the restoration of ecosystems, the bureau of natural resources and planning in Qingzhen has implemented the forest chief and lake chief systems to effectively crack down on illegal activities related to wildlife within the region.

The natural environment around Red Maple Lake is improving, providing an ideal habitat for migratory birds.