Critically endangered ducks spotted in N China reserve at Hengshui Lake.
Nearly 120 Baer’s Pochards, critically endangered diving ducks, have been spotted wintering at Hengshui Lake National Nature Reserve in Hebei Province, northern China.
The rare ducks were photographed by Zhang Xuefeng, a wildlife photographer, who shared the images with the wetland ecological monitoring division under the resource protection bureau of Hengshui’s Lakeside New Area.
Listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Baer’s Pochard is a sensitive indicator species. Zhang recalled noticing a few ducks resting on the water’s surface before spotting a large flock in the distance through his camera lens.
“Capturing such a significant sighting was exhilarating,” Zhang said, expressing pride in documenting the beauty of Hengshui Lake and its wildlife.
Baer’s Pochards were first recorded at Hengshui Lake in 2000 by researchers, and Zhang’s recent observation marks the largest flock seen at the lake since 2018.
According to Zhang Yuguang, head of the wetland ecological monitoring division, the sighting reflects the health and stability of Hengshui Lake’s ecosystem, as Baer’s Pochards are highly sensitive to environmental conditions.
Hengshui Lake, located in the city of Hengshui, is a national nature reserve preserving an intact wetland ecosystem of swamps, water bodies, tidal flats, meadows, and forests. The reserve is a crucial stopover for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, with 336 bird species recorded to date.
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