Bird migration is a survival instinct of birds following the natural environment. Studying bird migration behavior, understanding the migration time, the route and number of migratory birds, and the relationship with breeding grounds and wintering environment, etc., for the protection of rare and endangered bird species, the use of migratory birds to protect agricultural and forestry production and maintain ecological balance, that can provide a scientific basis. Yet the patterns also give the traffickers a chance to commit crimes. In the autumn, migratory birds begin to migrate one after another. After a long period of investigation, CBCGDF’s volunteers found a bird-hunting den in Tangshan City, Hebei Province. On September 9, reporters from CCTV, CBCGDF’s volunteers and the local forest police jointly found nearly 1,000 wild birds.
The electronic bird-hunting equipment used by bird traffickers can produce more than ten kinds of bird sounds attracting the surrounding similar bird species to fall into the already-arranged nets. The captured wild birds will be sold to Guangzhou at a price ranging from 1-10 yuan each and will be put on the table to get benefits. In an ordinary house, CCTV reporters and CBCGDF’s volunteers discovered many bird cages, and there were about a few hundred wild birds in each small space. Initially identified by volunteers, there are yellow-breasted buntings and other species. The yellow-breasted bunting has been listed as a critically endangered species in 2017.
The local forest police said that the case needs to be handled in three steps: finding experts to identify the species of birds; counting the number of birds; and find the right places to release the birds as soon as possible. There were birds flying out of the cage at the scene. The staff wanted to open the window and release them but found out that they were physically weak due to the loss of freedom for a long time. At the same time, there are more than 400 bird dead bodies in the yard, which have rotted due to the time being, giving off an unpleasant smell. The police have collected all the books, bird boxes, videos, etc. seized on the spot. At present, the incident has been filed by the police, and CBCGDF will continue to pay attention to help the birds migrate smoothly.
Original Chinese article:
http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/6127.html
(Photo source: Internet)