Lishui has rich bird species resources. [Photo/Lishui Daily]

To celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, the fourth Lishui Birdwatching International Invitational Competition was held in Songyang county, East China's Zhejiang province, on May 12-14.

The event invited birdwatchers from the United Kingdom and Bulgaria, as well as 30 teams from more than 10 provinces and cities in China.

During the event, a record 228 bird species were observed.

Cui Peng, a researcher at Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences said: "Many teams recorded rare and characteristic species of southwestern Zhejiang mountains, as well as some rare summer migrants."

These records provide important scientific data for the protection and research of birds in Lishui, Cui added.

The Lishui Bird Ecology Protection Association was established in March last year. In 2022 alone, members of the association recorded 363 bird species in the city, of which 13 were new entries in Lishui and one was also a new entry for Zhejiang.

"For us, birdwatching is more than just a hobby. Observing and recording these feathered creatures, as well as popularizing scientific knowledge, are our responsibilities," said Xie Wei, head of the association.