Zhang Kailun, Yantian Foreign Language School Instructed by Mao Xiaolin

Have you ever seen crested ibises? Have their red beaks impressed you a lot? And do you know their history?

The crested ibis, one of the oldest bird species in the world, has been on the earth for more than 60 million years. In history, the crested ibis was widely distributed in East China, Japan, Russia, and North Korea. However, they began to decline sharply and were even thought to be extinct by the 1960s.

In 1981, an expedition made up of scientists from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences went to Yangxian County, Hanzhong City of Shaanxi Province, and posted that if anyone could clue them to find crested ibises, he or she would get an award. Fortunately, a farmer said he had seen them, and a small group of seven wild crested ibises was discovered according to the clues, four adults and three young, as well as two of their nests in Yaojiagou of Yangxian County, my hometown, the birds being the only population of wild crested ibises in the world.

The local government has taken a series of efficient measures and spent millions in protecting and saving the crested ibis. They reported it to the Central Government and some experts were immediately sent to survey the situation. Shortly afterwards, many nature reserves and protection sites have been built, like the Qingling No.1 protection station. What’s more, many volunteers were sent there to look after the birds day and night. During the daytime, they watched and recorded the birds’ habits and conditions. At night, their job was to keep them safe.

Meanwhile, besides the early efforts of the government, the bird’s survival owes to much hard work and devotion by the local residents as well. With the government’s promotion, gradually, they knew that it was of great importance to protect the endangered bird. Therefore, some special habits were created. For example, to protect crested ibises from being poisoned when catching worms or small fish in rice fields, they never use chemical fertilizers and pesticides when planting crops despite the reduction of crops, and the residents also have strict rules not to approach nests or chase the birds, which also results in the mass reproduction of the small living things they feed on in order that we can ensure enough food is available for them and there is a stable food chain.

With the joint efforts of all, and the noticeable achievements that have been made, especially in captive breeding, the crested ibis has been saved from extinction. According to incomplete statistics, at present, its total population has grown to more than 7,000 worldwide and Yangxian accounts for more than half, which means a huge success for everyone working to save the species. Nowadays, when I go for a walk in the fields, a group of crested ibises come into my sight at times.

As a native of Yangxian County, I heard the story from my parents and witnessed some of the process with my own eyes. In addition, I take pride in the great ecological environment in my hometown and the simple and honest folkway. Growing up in such an atmosphere makes me understand more about the significance of protecting animals and nature. We can gain an important enlightenment that if we destroy nature at our own will, we will be punished by nature, and only if we live in harmony with nature can we achieve a win-win situation.