Birding Excursion to Yeyahu Wetlands, Led by Terry Townshend
You may not know that Beijing is a brilliant place for birding, with 490 avian species recorded – more than London, Paris or Washington D.C. Strategically placed along the East Asian Australasian Flyway, Beijing is like a service station on the expressway for millions of birds migrating every spring and autumn from breeding grounds in the north to warmer climes in the south. Join us for a day-long excursion to Yeyahu (Wild Duck Lake), a world-class wetland reserve in northwest Beijing, about 1.5-2 hours’ drive from the city center and near the Hebei provincial border. Flanked by mountains to the north and south, the park features lakes, reedbeds and lightly wooded areas where one can see more than 60 bird species in a day — including Amur Falcons fresh from their wintering grounds in southeast Africa, Eastern Marsh Harriers (pictured), and other wetland species.
WHAT: Day-long birding trip led by conservationist Terry Townshend
WHEN: May 13, Sun. Bus pick-up is 07:00 AM at Hilton Hotel, 3rd Ring Road, 400 meters north of Liangmaqiao subway station. We’ll return there around 18:00 PM
WHERE: Yeyahu (Wild Duck Lake) wetlands park in northwest Beijing,
HOW MUCH: RASBJ members RMB 250, non-members RMB 300 (transport, bottled water and RMB 50 entry fee included. However binoculars and lunch are NOT INCLUDED; PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN — OF BOTH — IF NEEDED). Instant noodles are available for sale at the Yeyahu reserve.
RSVP: [email protected] and write “Birding” in the header. Seating may be limited so RSVP soon!
MORE ABOUT THE GROUP LEADER:
A Beijinger since 2010, Terry Townshend is a conservationist and birder who has spearheaded campaigns to save some of China’s rarest birds from extinction, including the Jankowski’s Bunting and Baer’s Pochard. He runs the Birding Beijing website, serves on BirdLife International’s Global Advisory Group and recently took up a Directorship with a new Chinese organisation, EcoAction, focusing on environmental education in schools and sustainable ecotourism. He is also an advisor to ShanShui Conservation Centre and the government of Qinghai Province. He has seen more than 400 species in the capital and has found several first records, including the Beijing’s first Tree Pipit in the British Ambassador’s garden.
