A bird-watching event kicked off on Nov 12 in the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Dongying, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province.

Spanning around a month, this event offers significant opportunities for people to witness the impressive seasonal migration of various bird species, casting a spotlight on the reserve.

Migratory birds at the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Dongying. [Photo by Liang Ben/chinadaily.com.cn]

Titled "Yellow River Estuary, Shared Home of Man and Birds", the event also emphasizes its ecological significance.

A series of symposiums addressing topics such as migratory bird habitat protection, raising awareness about wetland conservation, and the application of intelligent devices in biodiversity protection took place in the city on Nov 12, attracting experts and representatives from both domestic and international spheres.

Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), paid a visit to Dongying on Nov 12.

She pointed out that China's contribution to wetland protection, biodiversity, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is essential to global efforts, with Dongying's ecological achievements playing a vital role. The UNDP will continue to support China's efforts in ecological conservation.

Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific at the UNDP, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the bird-watching event. [Photo by Liang Ben/chinadaily.com.cn]

Serving the ongoing bird-watching season as an opportunity, Dongying is intensifying its efforts in biodiversity protection, involving both authorities and residents.

Through official channels, the city is steadfastly pursuing its vision for the preservation of migratory birds, leveraging its ecological advantages. Simultaneously, citizens are actively encouraged to contribute to the cause, fostering awareness of natural conservation through the systematic promotion of bird protection.

This dual approach aims to unite both governmental and individual efforts in safeguarding the biodiversity where the Yellow River meets the sea.

A bird-eye view of the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Dongying. [Photo by Liang Ben/chinadaily.com.cn]

The Yellow River, known as China's "mother river" and the cradle of Chinese civilization, spans about 5,464 kilometers through nine provincial-level regions.

In Dongying, the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve has become an important wintering and stopover site for migratory birds due to the local government's continuous efforts to restore the ecological environment over the past years.

Dubbed an "international airport for birds", the reserve currently is home to 373 avian species, attracting large numbers of tourists at home and abroad. Due to the improvements to the ecosystem, a growing number of wild animals have been sheltering in the region.