A Record-Breaking Day for Raptor Migration in China

The autumn winds sweeping across northern China signaled the start of the raptor migration season. Standing on a platform overlooking the Bohai Gulf, patrolmen and bird enthusiasts witnessed a remarkable avian event – the first "10,000 raptors day" on the Chinese mainland. In a single day, they counted a staggering 11,175 raptors in flight, shattering the previous record of 7,561.

This achievement comes shortly after the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II) were inscribed on the World Heritage List. The Dalian reserve, one of the five protected areas included in this new heritage site, is the first in Liaoning province to receive this prestigious designation.

Situated on the southernmost tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, Laotie Mountain serves as a crucial passage for migratory birds traversing the Bohai Strait. It is a vital site along the East Asia-Australasia flyway, a major migratory route for birds.

Since 2018, the reserve has undertaken a dedicated raptor monitoring initiative. Over the past seven years, the average annual count has exceeded 60,000 raptors. In the record-breaking year of 2023, the count peaked at an astonishing 85,567 birds, with a daily average exceeding 1,000 raptors.

With clear skies and gentle breezes, the raptor monitoring team finally encountered ideal conditions for raptor migration on Monday. Anticipation ran high as they expected a surge in the number of Oriental honey buzzards, a prominent raptor species observed during the autumn migration.

As the hours passed, the count did not initially meet expectations. However, the situation took a dramatic turn as volunteers, using thermal imaging devices, spotted countless tiny black dots on a distant hillside. A massive group of honey buzzards was approaching.

The honey buzzards came, appearing along the entire ridge from west to east, soaring in formation, creating a colossal "eagle ball". After spiraling upward and ascending rapidly, they formed an "eagle river", flying over the volunteers' heads across the Bohai Strait.

"After that, every hour we saw over a thousand, and by midafternoon, the number had reached close to 10,000, setting a new record," said volunteer Du Le.

The observers recorded 11,175 raptors, with 10,870 being Oriental honey buzzards, setting a new single-day migration record for the species on the Chinese mainland.

"To witness such a massive migration of raptors all at once, I can now depart this life without regrets," said volunteer Cheng Ming.