Every autumn, China's Poyang Lake transforms into a living theater of biodiversity as over 700,000 migratory birds descend upon its wetlands. Known as East Asia's most critical wintering ground, this UNESCO-recognized ecosystem hosts 98% of the world's endangered Siberian cranes and 95% of global oriental stork populations – a natural phenomenon scientists call \"one of Earth's last great migrations.\"
The lake's seasonal shrinkage creates nutrient-rich mudflats, attracting birds from as far as Siberia and Mongolia after journeys spanning 3,000+ kilometers. Recent surveys document 460+ bird species utilizing this habitat, with endangered waterbirds showing population rebounds attributed to improved conservation efforts.
\"What unfolds here each winter is a planetary-scale balancing act,\" explains CGTN Nature's documentary team, currently filming the ecological relationships between the lake's residents and its winged visitors. Their footage reveals seldom-seen behaviors of reed parrotbills hunting in marshlands and great knots performing synchronized aerial displays.
Environmental analysts highlight Poyang Lake's role in maintaining global avian biodiversity while serving as a climate change indicator. Satellite data shows the wetland area fluctuates seasonally between 1,000-3,000 square kilometers, creating dynamic ecosystems that support species from microcrustaceans to apex predators.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
