Migratory Swans Arrive Early in Lingqiu

Shanxi Evening News reported (reporters Guo Bin, correspondents Zhibo). Recently, the Lingqiu Black-necked Crane Nature Reserve Administration personnel discovered that the Tang River Menitou Gully Reservoir welcomed the first batch of migrating swans, nearly half a month earlier than in previous years.

After careful observation, this flock of swans gathered great swans, small swans, and naked-necked swans, totaling more than 150, which was spectacular. Among them, the naked-necked swan reached 30 plus, which is rare. According to relevant sources, the occasional appearance of naked-necked swans in northern China is a matter of the past two or three years, generally appearing in small groups of three or four, and this time a large group of 30 plus is truly rare. Naked-necked swans are named because of a wart-like bump on their beaks and are classified as a national level two protected animal.

According to the technical personnel of the Black-necked Crane Nature Reserve Administration, swan migration is generally in mid-March, when the ice and snow melt. This year, the swans stopped here, possibly because the Menitou Gully Reservoir did not store water last winter and was recently started to fill, and the ice was no longer frozen. The lake provided a good environment for the swans to stop and replenish energy. Also stopping to forage here were national level one protected animals, black-necked cranes, gray geese, green-headed ducks, crested buntings, and red-crested ducks. They were free and unrestrained in the water, foraging or chasing or playing, painting a beautiful and harmonious ecological picture here.