In recent days, in a pond in Ezhou Riverside Park, four very beautiful rare birds stand on the branches and stare at the water, waiting for fish. The reporter learned that this kind of birds is called white-throated kingfishers, the national second-class protected animals, the Kingfisher family Halcyon genus of birds, but also one of the most beautiful ornamental birds in plumage.
Four white-throated kingfishers were seen standing guard in a crouching position on green maple branches by the water, while patiently waiting for small fish to surface. Once the target appears, it quickly aims at the target, dives into the water, almost hitting the target with a single blow, and a small fish is caught at once.
White-throated kingfishers are distributed in Eurasia, North Africa, Indian subcontinent and Southwest China, which has been listed into the IUCN Red List of Birds for Conservation. They prey on crickets, spiders, scorpions and small fish.
It is understood that the number of white-throated kingfishers declined sharply in the last century, and it is even more rare in Ezhou. In recent years, during the construction of the Riverside Park, China First Metallurgical Group has paid attention to the ecological protection, made full use of the embankment beach land natural topography and geomorphology and retained the original three ponds. Efforts are made to plant native aquatic plants, increase woodlands, shrub meadows, water space and replant 172,000 square meters of shrubs, ground cover of 40,000 square meters, restoration of the water body of 40,000 square meters, thus achieving the ecological service of the landscape water body function and attracting the white-throated kingfishers, wild ducks, egrets, black water fowls, silky starlings and other birds are attracted to live here.
The “white-throated kingfishers”, with bright blue tail feathers, caught the eye as they searched for food and danced, adding a wonderful scene to the quiet Ezhou Riverside Park.