For this episode we explore the birds and biodiversity of the nation’s capital with Beijing-based conservationist, Terry Townshend.
Mei and Terry talk about the remarkable Beijing swift, China’s birding boom and a rising awareness of conservation in the country’s public and political spheres.
Listen to Episode 21: Birds and Biodiversity in Beijing
You can also listen to The China Travel Podcast on:
Episode Overview:
- 00:28 – Introduction to Terry Townshend
- 01:53 – Biodiversity in Beijing
- 09:49 – Other biodiverse species found in Beijing
- 11:50 – Insects in Beijing
- 13:36 – The Beijing Swift
- 18:41 – Where do Beijing Swifts go when they leave Beijing
- 25:58 – Local Beijing schools work with Beijing Swift conservation
- 31:47 – Birding interest across China
- 34:35 – How access to knowledge/information has changed
- 38:06 – What China is doing for the environment
- 39:28 – COP 15 in Kunming
- 41:07 – WildChina’s early 2000s ABA birding trip
- 41:42 – Baihualing, Yunnan
- 43:04 – Terry’s China birding trip itinerary
- 43:55 – The Yellow Sea migration
- 44:44 – Tracking the migration of the Bar-tailed Godwit
- 47:32 – Sichuan’s temperate forest
- 49:06 – Wuerqihan, Inner Mongolia
- 50:02 – More resources and socials for Terry
Books/further reading mentioned/recommended in this episode
More resources on specific birds/projects mentioned in the podcast:
- Nocturnal flight call project in Beijing, autumn 2021
- Tracking the Beijing Swift
- China’s leading property developer, Pan Shiyi, commits to swift-friendly buildings
- Annual migration of the Bar-tailed Godwit
More resources on birding in China
- Birding Beijing
- Connect with Terry on Twitter: @BirdingBeijing
Bird sounds on podcast courtesy of Terry Townshend:
- 07:18 Lingshan Dawn Corus, Beijing
- 32:25 Chinese Blackbird Song, Wenyu River, Beijing
- 49:16 Dusk at Wuerqihan, Inner Mongolia
