XIAMEN: Xiamen, a coastal eastern Chinese metropolis, may have one of the world’s smallest nature reserves for one single endangered bird species, which is even hidden among skyscrapers in its downtown. The distinguished visitor to the reserve is called Merops philippinus, or Blue-tailed Bee-eater, whose Chinese name sounds confusing to almost anyone as the phrase literally means a tiger-like hunter of bees with a chestnut-colored neck without any hint of its actual identity as a bird species.
Duan Daoqing, 44, has been attending the wildlife’s seasonal stopover at Wuyuan Bay Nature Reserve in Huli District for about three years.
He enjoys seeing people turn to one another with the same expression of dawning comprehension, surprise, and relief after hearing his explanation of the bird’s name: The bird is such a talented animal “pilot” that it catches meals, mostly bees, butterflies, and dragonflies while flying.
True to its name, the species is a ferocious predator, just like tigers in the jungle, that easily gives insects the creeps. Surrounded by over-10-story buildings just 200 to 300 meters across the streets, the tiny reserve where Duan patrols daily is equipped with all it needs to protect the habitats where the endangered bird can reproduce safely and sound yearly. –Agencies
