When a Schrenck’s bittern, a bird species rarely seen in eastern China turned up on a park island in Wenzhou, it not only drew flocks of bird-watchers, it turned around the city’s park renovation plans.
Rebuilding work on the park’s lake island will now begin again in the springtime, allowing the solitary bird, first spotted on November 4, to winter over in peace. Or at least as much peace as daily crowds of binocular-wearing enthusiasts can give it.
Of course, while it’s the center of attention, it’s not the only avian attraction in the park. “Now more than 40 kinds of birds can be observed in the park, covering most of the species in the city,” said Wang Xiaoning, secretary of a local wild bird association.
