A heron forages for food in water in Shanxi province. [Photo/Shanxi Evening News]

The first Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei-Shanxi birdwatching season was recently launched in Beijing, with the four regions jointly releasing a birdwatching map. 

The map highlights 44 sites, including nature reserves, forest parks, wetland parks, and municipal parks where birds are found. In Shanxi province, 12 birdwatching sites have been selected. 

Sanggan River National Wetland Park in Datong city

Located in Yunzhou district, the park is a natural reserve dedicated to protecting artificial forests of poplars, Chinese parasol trees, and Chinese pines, as well as wild animals, migratory waterfowl, and their habitats. Its wetland covers an area of 3,933.14 hectares with a wetland rate of 83.37 percent.

Commonly seen species include swans, geese, ducks, cranes, storks, and herons.

Best birdwatching period: autumn and winter 

Taipingyao Reservoir in Shuozhou city

Located in Taipingyao village, the reservoir has a total capacity of 9.96 million cubic meters and serves as an important food supply stop for migratory birds.

Commonly seen species include swans, geese, ducks, herons, and egrets.

Best birdwatching period: winter

Luya Mountain in Xinzhou city

Located at the northern end of Lyuliang Mountain, Luya Mountain has around 546 square kilometers of primary sub-forest, 440 sq km of grassland, and over 500 species of flora and fauna. It is a key protected area for the brown-eared pheasant.

Other commonly seen species include the Qilian Mountain blue-tailed robin, the grey-headed thrush, and various species of warblers.

Best birdwatching period: summer 

Fenhe River No 2 Dam in Qingxu county

The dam is an irrigation and flood control project built along the Fenhe River. During the migration season, it receives a large number of waterfowl, with its temporary duck and goose populations exceeding 3,000.

Commonly seen species include ducks, coots, herons, and wrens.

Best birdwatching period: winter 

Xiaohe Wetland Park in Jincheng city

Located in the southeast of Jincheng, the park covers 9.8 sq km. It features a large green landscape area in a natural state.

Commonly seen species include ducks, coots, herons, cuckoos, and magpies.

Best birdwatching period: summer 

Lingkong Mountain scenic area in Qinyuan county

This scenic area is located in the Lingkong Mountain Nature Reserve for the brown-eared pheasant, with its forest coverage rate reaching 80.3 percent.

Commonly seen species include various types of warblers and babblers.

Best birdwatching period: summer 

Sanwan whooper swan scenic area in Pinglu county

This scenic area located at the intersection of Shanxi and Henan provinces belongs to the Yellow River reservoir area of Sanmenxia. The vegetation is rich and the climate is mild.

Commonly seen species include whooper swans, geese, various types of wild ducks, and cormorants.

Best birdwatching period: winter 

Yellow River Wetland in Yuncheng city

The Yellow River Wetland is one of the most important wetland areas in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and the main habitat for whooper swans and gray cranes in North China.

Commonly seen species include gray cranes, black storks, various types of wild ducks, herons, and water pipits.

Best birdwatching period: winter 

Shunwangping scenic area in Yuanqu county

This scenic area at an altitude of 2,358 meters is located in the mountain nature reserve at the junction of Yicheng, Yuanqu, and Qinshui counties.

Commonly seen species include various kinds of tits, large-billed crows and warblers.

Best birdwatching period: summer 

Huliu River wetland in Guangling county

The Huliu River wetland consists of a series of plain reservoirs, with an area of more than 10,000 hectares. It is located in the northeast of Shanxi and is closer to the eastern coast. There is a higher proportion of shorebirds in the migration season.

Commonly seen species include gray cranes, various types of wild ducks, and waders.

Best birdwatching period: spring 

Shengtian Lake in Ruicheng county

Shengtian Lake is located at the southernmost tip of Shanxi, with an area of more than 400 hectares. There are a large number of birds during the migration season and in winter. The scale of migrant geese and ducks can exceed 10,000.

Commonly seen species include whooper swans, various types of wild ducks, and cormorants.

Best birdwatching period: winter 

Dongyulin Reservoir in Shuozhou city

This reservoir in Dongyulin village has a water area of 4 sq km and serves as a large artificial water body in northwestern Shanxi for migratory birds to rest in.

Commonly seen bird include whooper swans, geese, herons, black storks, and egrets.

Best bird watching season: spring and autumn