Every Sunday morning, a group of bird-lovers find a nice, quiet place in Zizhu Park, set up their cameras and wait patiently for their feathered friends to appear. China is home to 1,300 of the 9,000 birds species known worldwide. Despite being a city of more than 16 million people (according to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics), Beijing has about 350 kinds of birds and these winged creatures can be seen every day.
"Magpies can usually be found in the park as they seem happy to be around human beings," says Zhao Xinru, ornithologist from Beijing Normal University and one of the organizers of the group.
In the past 20 years, Zhao has organized numerous bird-watching sessions and contests throughout the country. In Beijing, you can find Egrets, Woodpeckers, general Nighthawk, white waist Swift, Sambo birds and the common Azure-winged Magpie, of which there are 26 kinds. The city also has wild geese and ducks, Spoonbills, Orioles, Chickadees, and more than 100 kinds of Cuckoos.
The best time for bird-watching in Beijing is spring, and bird activity gets busiest early morning as they forage for food.
You can find some common Teal, small PT Herons, and small Reed-warblers in city parks such as the Temple of Heaven, Yuanmingyuan, the Summer Palace and the Beijing Botanical Garden.
Orioles, Ducks and Egrets can be found in the wetland areas on the outskirts of the city, while the mountain areas outside the city feature birds of prey, such as the gray-face mad Eagles, Hawks, and red Falcons. Here is a rundown of the most commonly found birds in the city:
Magpie
The Magpie is often seen in north China, especially Beijing.
Those living in siheyuan or courtyard houses can easily spot these birds, which often nest under the eaves and show no fear of human beings. Many Chinese believe that a magpie brings good luck, and this explains the bird's image on paper-cuts, New Year pictures and some artworks.
The blue winged creature dubbed "goddess," has been an auspicious symbol in China for thousands of years.
According to legend, every year thousands of magpies form a bridge across the Milky Way on the evening of July 7 in the lunar calendar, to help a cowherd meet his wife, a fairy, in the sky.
Great spotted Woodpecker
With black-and white-striped feathers and a cherry red patch on its lower white belly, the great spotted Woodpecker can be easily identified in woodland, parks, and rural and suburban gardens. It is Beijing's most common Woodpecker, numbering about 100,000.
Billed as the percussionist of the city, the bird gives an impressive performance in spring, drumming loudly and rhythmically into tree trunks to make a hole to nest in.
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