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Snapping the elusive snow birds
December 22, 2010, Wednesday
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IT may be a cold and miserable season for many, but winter is also the perfect time to witness the beauty of birds. Xu Wenwen learns the lengths some Hangzhou avian enthusiasts go to for that perfect picture of our feathered friends frolicking in the snow.
Hundreds of Mandarin ducks float on the serene surface of West Lake, and tens of photographers crouching at the side of the lake hold their breath while shutters click frequently.
The photographers are from Zhejiang Wild Bird Society (ZWBS), a membership-based non-governmental organization affiliated to Zhejiang Wildlife Conservation Association, and their common hobby is to protect, appreciate and observe wild birds.
As winter has arrived, the best season to observe birds is here - birds love to spend the winter in warmer southern China, while Zhejiang Province is the destination for many birds because of its hilly terrain, abundant water and humid subtropical climate.
In particular, "Hangzhou is the best place to observe birds and take pictures of birds," says Lu Yulin, a 66-year-old who has been a member of the society for five years, "attributed to its beautiful landscape and large number and kinds of birds."
"Hangzhou has more than 100 kinds of resident birds, such as Chinese Bulbul, Green-winged Teal and Spot-billed Duck, while many kinds of birds from northern China fly to Hangzhou to spend the winter, including Herring Gull, Mandarin Duck, Fish Duck and Cormorant," says Lu.
The society was founded in Hangzhou in 2002, aiming to set up a platform for bird lovers and so far it has nearly 300 members, many of whom are fans of bird photography.
Though the quantity of birds in Hangzhou is large, to get a nice photo of a bird isn't so simple, and these photographers have taken much effort to get theirs.
"We 'bird people' have to bear hardship ? very early mornings, rainy days and snowy days are all great for photographs," Lu says.
Last week, the city's first snow of this winter excited the birdwatchers, who went prepared with their cameras with the hope of catching a shot of a bird walking in snow.
Cheng Guolong climbed Solitude Hill and chose the hilltop as his base. Aiming his camera at a grass covered by thick snow, he crouched in the snowfield and kept still for hours, ignoring the chilly wind that froze his face and hands until he captured the scene of Eophona migratoria (a finch) holding fruit in its mouth.
Recalling the story, Cheng has a very excited smile. "Hangzhou has little snow, so to shoot a bird in a snowfield is rare, let alone that it is in action!"
"The tiredness disappears as long as we catch the photo of a rare species of bird, or a bird fluttering or eating," says Cheng. "Plus, to share the good photos with other bird fans is also pleasurable."
However, bird photography is not cheap since it requires advanced cameras and lenses. So, around three years ago, the ZWBS resolved to share the joy with the general public by promoting appreciation and understanding of birds.
During this season, members of ZWBS gather every Saturday at the south end of Su Causeway across the lake to take photos of birds. Meanwhile, they distribute the "Hangzhou Bird Appreciating Map" to passers-by and teach them how to observe birds using telescopes, which are provided by the society for free.
The largest telescope is cannon-like and its magnification is equal to 60 times what people see with their own eyes, while three pairs of binoculars allow people to see eight times more detail.
"Many people describe their first impression of seeing a bird through a telescope as 'breathtaking' because they've never seen a bird so close," says Chen Shuihua, the chairman of ZWBS, "and this is exactly our aim ? to help people to notice the beauty they used to neglect."
"Everybody knows West Lake is beautiful, but what is the essence of the beauty? It's the interaction and harmony between animals and nature, birds enliven the lake." Chen adds.
Hundreds of Mandarin ducks float on the serene surface of West Lake, and tens of photographers crouching at the side of the lake hold their breath while shutters click frequently.
The photographers are from Zhejiang Wild Bird Society (ZWBS), a membership-based non-governmental organization affiliated to Zhejiang Wildlife Conservation Association, and their common hobby is to protect, appreciate and observe wild birds.
As winter has arrived, the best season to observe birds is here - birds love to spend the winter in warmer southern China, while Zhejiang Province is the destination for many birds because of its hilly terrain, abundant water and humid subtropical climate.
In particular, "Hangzhou is the best place to observe birds and take pictures of birds," says Lu Yulin, a 66-year-old who has been a member of the society for five years, "attributed to its beautiful landscape and large number and kinds of birds."
"Hangzhou has more than 100 kinds of resident birds, such as Chinese Bulbul, Green-winged Teal and Spot-billed Duck, while many kinds of birds from northern China fly to Hangzhou to spend the winter, including Herring Gull, Mandarin Duck, Fish Duck and Cormorant," says Lu.
The society was founded in Hangzhou in 2002, aiming to set up a platform for bird lovers and so far it has nearly 300 members, many of whom are fans of bird photography.
Though the quantity of birds in Hangzhou is large, to get a nice photo of a bird isn't so simple, and these photographers have taken much effort to get theirs.
"We 'bird people' have to bear hardship ? very early mornings, rainy days and snowy days are all great for photographs," Lu says.
Last week, the city's first snow of this winter excited the birdwatchers, who went prepared with their cameras with the hope of catching a shot of a bird walking in snow.
Cheng Guolong climbed Solitude Hill and chose the hilltop as his base. Aiming his camera at a grass covered by thick snow, he crouched in the snowfield and kept still for hours, ignoring the chilly wind that froze his face and hands until he captured the scene of Eophona migratoria (a finch) holding fruit in its mouth.
Recalling the story, Cheng has a very excited smile. "Hangzhou has little snow, so to shoot a bird in a snowfield is rare, let alone that it is in action!"
"The tiredness disappears as long as we catch the photo of a rare species of bird, or a bird fluttering or eating," says Cheng. "Plus, to share the good photos with other bird fans is also pleasurable."
However, bird photography is not cheap since it requires advanced cameras and lenses. So, around three years ago, the ZWBS resolved to share the joy with the general public by promoting appreciation and understanding of birds.
During this season, members of ZWBS gather every Saturday at the south end of Su Causeway across the lake to take photos of birds. Meanwhile, they distribute the "Hangzhou Bird Appreciating Map" to passers-by and teach them how to observe birds using telescopes, which are provided by the society for free.
The largest telescope is cannon-like and its magnification is equal to 60 times what people see with their own eyes, while three pairs of binoculars allow people to see eight times more detail.
"Many people describe their first impression of seeing a bird through a telescope as 'breathtaking' because they've never seen a bird so close," says Chen Shuihua, the chairman of ZWBS, "and this is exactly our aim ? to help people to notice the beauty they used to neglect."
"Everybody knows West Lake is beautiful, but what is the essence of the beauty? It's the interaction and harmony between animals and nature, birds enliven the lake." Chen adds.
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