Islands and reefs in the South China Sea have become a paradise for birds where feathered friends find solace in the region’s unique climate.
Across China’s vast sea area, there are 78 recorded species of seabirds. Dozens of them – including terns – can be found in the city of Sansha.
Local rangers like Chen Hairen are working hard to protect the native bird habitats, devoting themselves to protecting the native bird habitats that dot these remote corners of the ocean.
“We plant trees, shrubs, and ground cover on the island to provide a good habitat for birds,” he said.
The island’s mercurial weather can turn on a dime, and when storms brew, Chen put on his raincoat and ventures out, reinforcing the trees to shield the precious eggs and hatchlings from harm’s wrath.
After three weeks of patient incubation, the tern chicks emerge, their downy fluff a promise of the aviators they will become. Under the watchful guidance of their parents, these pint-sized pupils learn to waddle, paddle, and finally take flight, mastering the art of catching their seafood suppers.
“I imagine the island should be covered with vegetation, where seabirds, various other birds, and sea turtles coexist harmoniously,” Chen said.
In addition to rangers like Chen, reef guards volunteer to help protect the terns. Once a week they come to the reefs to collect rubbish from the sea, to prevent the birds from eating it or becoming tangled in fishing nets.
“We usually keep our distance when we patrol the island and observe the seabirds. We pay special attention to minimizing contact, allowing them to settle comfortably here,” said a reef guard.
As environmental awareness takes root among the local island communities, the once-prevalent practices of egg collection and culling young birds have faded into obsolescence. Now, these islands stand as beacons of conservation, where the terns can return to their birthplaces every three years, continuing the cycle of life in this corner of the vast blue expanse.