As bird poaching declines, a ranger's job shifts to collecting data, treating injured

Huang Yongqiang's duty has changed as a ranger at the bird protection station in the Luoxiao Mountains, for the better. 

When he started this job, he took risks to stop poaching gangs and local villagers who hunt birds for a living. But in recent years, collecting ecological data and treating injured migratory birds have become his daily routine.

The Luoxiao Mountains, Xuefeng Mountains and Dongting Lake in central China's Hunan Province are part of the ancient bird routes. Every year, more than 240 species of migratory birds fly from Siberia in Russia to Australia via these places during the migratory season.

Walking in the mountains, Huang can still find traces of bird hunting – small areas of bare sand and stone on top of the mountain used for setting fire and nets as the birds are attracted to lights, said Huang.

In 2012, the local government established the first migratory bird protection station in the Luoxiao Mountains. Six members were on patrol 24 hours a day to prevent villagers and poachers from catching the birds. In the past 10 years, hundreds of other villagers have participated in voluntary patrols to protect these creatures.

Also, many former local bird hunters have become bird protectors as they are more familiar with the forests and understand the habits of migratory birds. They often serve as voluntary guides for volunteers and scientific research teams in the mountains.

The Hunan forestry bureau has set up dozens of protection stations across the province. The local forest patrol also monitor access to the mountain with infrared cameras. So far, large-scale and organized bird hunting has been completely curbed.

"During the migration season, the birds flying overhead are really spectacular," said Huang, adding that his work not only involves protecting the "ancient bird routes" but also preserving a valuable ecological treasure.