Recently, Yang Zheng and Chen Qi, staff members of the Beijing Biodiversity Conservation Research Center, captured the image of a national first-class protected wild animal, Baer's Pochard in the Liangshui River (Beijing E-Town section). For Beijing E-Town and even Beijing, the Baer's Pochard is a rare guest.

Two Baer's Pochard ducks swim in the Liangshui River. [Photo/beijingetown.com.cn]

As a protected wild animal and a critically endangered (CR) species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Baer's Pochard is one of the most critical duck species in the East Asia-Australasia flyway. 

In the 1980s, due to habitat loss, illegal hunting, and human disturbance, the Baer's Pochard population has sharply declined. It was on the brink of extinction.

"According to the survey, as of 2021, there were less than 1,000 Baer's Pochards in the world, and the domestic population was 600 to 800 birds. Their survival and protection status have received high attention at home and abroad," according to Chen Qi.

In this survey, they observed and recorded 13 species of aquatic birds totaling 2019 on the 20-kilometer-long section of the Liangshui River in Beijing E-Town.

The abundant food sources and the concealed habitats provided by the reed belts on the riverbank offer these aquatic birds superior living conditions.

The comprehensive management of the Liangshui River in recent years has banned sewage outlets, reduced the discharge of pollutants, and built complete infrastructure for sewage treatment and recycled water plants.