🦅3.23 Raptor Station: Chengdu Longmen Mountain Raptor Monitoring Report 1
Last autumn, other than ringing birds, I was also in a training process for joining the Chengdu Raptor Research Institute (studying how to recognize different raptors & piling their data). This spring, I successfully began organizing data on wind patterns, weather conditions, and the types and numbers of raptors migrating past the Longmen Mountains. This information will be shared with China’s national raptor observation center.
I will also be in charge of collaborating with local authorities to enforce laws against illegal activities such as raptor shooting. Together, we will conduct patrols through the mountains to locate and address hidden spots of illegal gun use (yes, i will be staying in the mountains for three days per week). Additionally, I will be educating local villagers on raptor protection and co-host this year’s annual Longmen Bird Competition.
Below is the first report of this spring:
This week, the total number of raptors was significantly lower compared to the same period on the eastern Longquan Mountains, likely due to frequent cloudy and rainy weather with lower temperatures in the Longmen Mountains in March. Regarding bird species, a considerable 17 species were observed. At Longmen Mountains, we recorded a rare adult male Eurasian Marsh Harrier, a new record since formal monitoring began in the Longmen Mountains. On the same day, we also recorded this year's first Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Volunteers joked in the group: "Recording both an adult male Eurasian Marsh Harrier and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk, why bother going to Xinjiang?"
This year's first Eurasian Sparrowhawk at Longmen Mountains
New record of Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Over the next few days, we continuously recorded two more Eurasian Sparrowhawks, causing little surprise among the group. Notably, the number of Steppe Eagles observed significantly increased compared to the same period last year. Last spring at Longmen Mountains, we only recorded 31 in 17 monitoring sessions throughout the entire season, whereas this week, we recorded 53, with a peak of 23 in a single day. The abundance raised suspicions of serious misidentification, later confirmed after careful photo verification.
Steppe Eagles
On March 18th, Longmenshan recorded 39 migrating Black-necked Cranes, marking the largest recorded migration of Black-necked Cranes in the Chengdu area with visual documentation to date. On March 11th, Ma Lilili also recorded 20 migrating cranes at Longmen Mountains, with insufficient visual evidence for precise identification, but strongly indicating Black-necked Cranes. Additionally, large water birds such as Great Cormorants were observed migrating through. In a time when raptor numbers were relatively low, the richness of adorable forest birds brought equal joy to volunteers.
39 Black-necked Cranes
Golden Orioles&Spotted NutcrackersGolden Orioles