CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- May 9 is the World Migratory Bird Day, during which the spring migrating birds of prey (commonly known as “eagles”) comes to Chongqing as promised. Due to mountainous landform, Chongqing has many species of birds of prey. In every migration season, a large number of birds pass by, and spectacular “river of eagles” and “column of eagles” can be seen. Therefore, Chongqing has become the “city of flying eagles” on the bird migration passage.

In the late spring and early summer, four volunteers of the bird-watching club with cameras were monitoring birds of prey at the viewing platform of Gele Mountain Forest Park. Zhou Xiaomei was standing at the forefront, fully armed. This is her seventh year as a volunteer at the bird-watching club. In Chongqing, she has seen many birds of prey. It is a kind of enjoyment for her to see eagles soaring in the blue sky.

Seen from Gele Mountain, mountains from south to north of Ridge and Valley Province of Chuandong are in an unbroken line. In every spring and autumn, tens of thousands of birds of prey from their wintering places in Indonesia, the Malay Peninsula and the Indo-China Peninsula pass through Chongqing along these mountains to their summer breeding places in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and northeast China.

You must climb on mountains if you want to watch birds of prey. During the peak hours, standing on Mingyue Mountain, you can get a picture of swarms of Pernis ptilorhynchus flying across the sky, quite spectacular. According to Wei Qian, the chairman of Chongqing Bird-watching Club, on May 4, they recorded more than 10,000 birds of prey in a single day for the first time in a simultaneous survey at the Ridge and Valley Province of Chuandong. The number of birds of prey recorded during the entire migration season may exceed 100,000, with the Pernis ptilorhynchus as the main species of migration. (Photographed by Ma Kaiyu)

During the migration season of birds of prey, the viewing platform of Gele Mountain Forest Park is particularly lively. Volunteers of the bird-watching club and citizens who come to participate in the popular science bird-watching activities arrive at the designated places early. Everyone is eagerly looking forward to seeing the magnificent appearance of birds of prey crossing the border. (Photographed by Deng Ding)

People with sunglasses, sunhat and camera are professional when watching the migration of birds of prey. Deng Shilin, a biology teacher of a junior high school, said that early May is the peak time for the migration of birds of prey and also the most exciting time to watch them.

When you watch the birds spread their wings and soar in the air, you may feel the vigor of flying with the wind to the sky after thousands of miles.

To get a clear picture of birds of prey, a camera lens with a focal length of more than 500mm is needed. Besides, you should be so familiar with the flying rules of the birds of prey and respond quickly that you can record the moment.

At the viewing platform, two university student volunteers were learning the basic knowledge of the migration of birds of prey. As a subtropical city, Chongqing has more than 30 species of migratory birds of prey. However, most of them are similar, so the difference between them is subtle and difficult to identify. Therefore, the monitors need to have adequate knowledge.

Birds of prey fly quite high, but they can still be spotted by bird-watchers with sharp eyes. With fuscous body feathers and white and light brown overhang on and below the tail, the image of an Aquila clanga spreading its wings was accurately captured by the bird-watching club monitor Ma Kaiyu. (Photographed by Ma Kaiyu)

The bird of prey, with its wings down, is called “Spilornis cheela”. It is the king in the sky with few natural predators. It mainly feeds on snakes and occasionally mice, birds and crustaceans. (Photographed by Li Meilin)

Since 2013, Chongqing Bird-watching Club has implemented systematic scientific monitoring of migratory birds of prey in Chongqing. More than 30 species have been recorded in the past seven years, among which there are some large birds of prey that are rare and endangered. (Photographed by Ma Kaiyu)

These birds of prey consume a lot of energy to migrate across mountains and rivers to arrive at their destination. For bird-watchers, seeing these birds of prey flying in the sky is the most exciting moment. Just as Wei Qian said, when you stand on the top of the mountain and see thousands of birds of prey flying over your head, you are really connected with the sky and the nature. (Photographed by Ma Kaiyu) (Translated by Mao Qiao, Fathom Language Limited)