A flock of baer’s pochard, critically endangered diving duck in the world and national first-class protected animal was spotted in Yangcheng Lake recently. The ten-plus ducks are getting ready to fly to the north for breeding.
A mature baer’s pochard is about 45 cm in length and is good at diving for food. Since 1980, the diving duck has seen a sharp drop in population due to the loss of habitats, illegal hunting and human interference. It was listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN in 2012 and there are now fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in the world.
Suzhou is not the main place for the duck’s wintering, but some choose to spend the winter in the city because of its numerous well-protected wetlands, according to Wang Renxiang, a bird observer from Suzhou Wetland Nature School.
Yangcheng East Lake Wetland Park昆山阳澄东湖省级湿地公园 is located in Bacheng Town of Kunshan, Suzhou. Owing to the all-round facilities including pavilions, viewing platforms and cycling routes, the park has become a good choice for sightseeing.
Opening hours: 8:30-16:30
Tickets: Free