Guan County of Shandong: Ranhai Reservoir Becomes a Bird Paradise

GUAN COUNTY, China, Mar. 18, 2024 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

In the gentle warmth of early spring, the grasslands around Ranhai Reservoir in Guan County, Shandong Province, gradually turn green. The reservoir’s water flows clear and calm, creating a picturesque scene with blue skies, clear water, and thriving ecology. A flock of water birds can be seen gracefully spreading their wings, either soaring through the air or leisurely swimming. They rest and forage here, adding vitality to the reservoir.

Ranhai Reservoir is part of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in Guan County, primarily serving the water needs of urban and rural residents. Since the completion of the reservoir, the entire county has been supplied with water from the Yangtze River through this project.

In recent years, Guan County has prioritized the protection and restoration of river and lake ecosystems, wetlands, and reservoirs. Through key projects aimed at enhancing water ecology, the county has achieved ongoing improvements in aquatic habitats. Initiatives such as the comprehensive transformation of Qingquan River, Ranhai Reservoir construction, Majiahe River wetland restoration, and the creation of beautiful rivers and lakes have shaped a water ecological space with “clear water, green banks, smooth rivers, and beautiful scenery.” Guan County has also been selected as a provincial pilot for the ecological product value realization mechanism and ecological environment supervision.

Guan County consistently strengthens the protection and ecological restoration of the reservoir environment. The ecological environment of the reservoir has continuously improved, attracting an increasing number of birds and wildlife. The population of migratory birds that inhabit the area has been growing annually. The excellent ecological environment has drawn a large number of birds to nest here. Some migratory birds even temporarily stop at the reservoir during their southward migration, becoming a significant landscape of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

“Rare bird species have high requirements for their habitat. Their frequent presence in Guan County is evidence of the improving ecological environment. Living in such a city, I feel very fortunate,” expressed An Wenlong, a member of the Guan County Photographers Association with over 50 years of photography experience.