The 1st China International Birding Festival will take place at the superb migration hotspot of Laotieshan, Liaoning Province on 25-27 September 2015.
The event, sponsored by the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), China Birdwatching Society and the Dalian Wildlife Conservation Society, has been designed to promote birding and wildlife conservation in China.
The 3-day event will include a 24-hr ‘bird race’ and teams of up to 4 people from around the world are welcome to test their birding skills against the locals. China birding legend, Paul Holt, will be one of the judges.
The generosity of the hosts means that accommodation will be provided but travel to and from Laotieshan is at the expense of the participants.
Readers of this website will know that Laotieshan is a special place. You can read about it here. The Festival has been timed to coincide with peak raptor migration and, in the right conditions, it’s possible to see more than 1,000 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARDS in a day, as well as many other species (we recorded more than 200 species during an autumn visit in 2013). In the early morning passerine migration is impressive and, offshore, rafts of STREAKED SHEARWATERS will add to the mix. I can’t wait!
More details, including an application form, can be found here. Although the deadline on the flyer for entering teams is 8 August, this is flexible. But hurry – it’s likely to be very popular!
More importantly, the Festival should serve as a boost to the fledgling (but growing fast) birding community in China. Be there or be sqaure!
EDIT: As at 10 August more than 30 teams have entered! And, as the deadline for applications has been extended to 15 August, you still have time to get together that team to challenge for title! Each team will be allocated an english-speaking member of the China Birdwatching Society to help with any logistical or language challenges over the course of the festival. So there’s no excuse not to be there!
Hi Terry – This is exciting!!! Sure wish I had known that it was on the planning table. I am going to be in Sichuan from the 16th – 28th of September. Just made the arrangements but am locked in. It would have been really fun to have joined. Best, EDNA
Hi Edna.. I am sorry for the short notice.. I hope that it will become an annual event with dates announced well in advance. A lot will depend on how it goes in September. Enjoy Sichuan!