On October 13th, a group of black storks were seen at the Xianshui River National Wetland Park in Luhuo, Sichuan Province. As a first class national protected species, the appearance of the black storks indicates that the Xianshui River Wetland Park is a critical resting area on the birds’ migratory route in western China.

“At the time, we were conducting biodiversity inspection.” Said Dr. Yang Nan of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Research Institute at the Southwest University for Nationalities. On October 12th and 13th, when Dr Yang, along with Dorje, Xuejia Laerbu, Chen Li, and others from the Forestry Department of Luhuo County inspected the Xianshui River National Wetland Park, they noticed 54 black storks and eight Mandarin ducks, and around 30 other types of wildlife.

Xianshui River National Wetland Park is located in Luhuo County in southeast Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Included in the wetland park are permanent riverine wetland, flooded wetland, marsh wetland, and other types of wetlands. The area is a crucial component of the cold and high-altitude wetlands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and an important stop for birds’ migration in western China.