A view of the opening ceremony of the third Yellow River Estuary International Birdwatching Season. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

At the recent Yellow River Delta Wetland in Dongying, Shandong province, where the Yellow River flows into the sea, tens of thousands of migratory birds take flight at dawn and dusk, creating a stunning spectacle. 

The birds set off in waves, sweeping across the reed marshes like the tail of a giant whale, or rolling across the sky like clouds. This "bird wave" phenomenon has been occurring daily since the beginning of winter in the wetland.

Echoing the phenomenon, on Nov 15, the third Yellow River Estuary International Birdwatching Season began in Dongying, highlighting the region's rich biodiversity.

The opening ceremony featured cooperation agreements focused on protecting wetlands and advancing joint research.

Shahbaz Khan, director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, said during the ceremony that China is becoming a global leader in biodiversity conservation and ecological civilization, and that the spectacular "bird waves" at the Yellow River estuary highlight both the resilience of life and shared responsibility.

Wang Xiufeng, vice-mayor of Dongying, noted that the city is a key stopover on global migratory routes and is often described as an "international airport" for birds.

Dongying has advanced ecological restoration comprehensively, increasing the number of bird species from 187 in the early 1990s to 374 today, with more than six million birds breeding and inhabiting the area each year.

"The Yellow River Delta in Dongying is a crucial site for global bird conservation," said James Fitzsimons, senior advisor of Global Strategies of The Nature Conservancy. He also emphasized that China's coastal wetland efforts have worldwide significance. "Most migratory species appear in both China's and Australia's bird guides," he added.