On October 10, more than 30,000 wild birds were discovered by Qinhuangdao Forestry Police Station at the home of a farmer in Hetao village, and later were released back to nature.

On October 10, more than 30,000 wild birds were discovered by Qinhuangdao Forestry Police Station at the home of a farmer in Hetao village, Fu Ning County. The captives, part of a scheme involving the illegal hunting and selling of rare wild birds, numbered nearly 10 species, including Yellow-breasted Bunting, Black-faced Bunting, Chestnut Bunting, Rosefinch, Mallard Duck, and Anas poecilorhyncha.

The farmers suspected of responsibility for the trapping were not at home. Forestry policemen released the 30,000 birds back into their natural habitat after checking breeds and collecting evidence on the spot. They also checked and sealed samples of 100 dead birds, such as Anas poecilorhyncha and Mallard.

At the same time, in order to research and monitor the living habits and migration patterns of this group of birds, with the aim of improving environmental conditions, the staff from Qinhuangdao Forestry Police Station and Wildlife Rescue and Reserve Center took 4,000 birds back to the center. On hearing the news, the National Bird Banding Center of China sent 6 professors to Qinhuangdao from Beijing on the evening of Oct 10 to help with banding and registration. The next day, nearly 4000 birds of a variety of species were set free.

It is understood that Qinhuangdao is a north-south bird-migration thoroughfare, with rich food supplies at coastal wetlands, and millions of migratory birds passing through every spring and autumn. These include a number of world-famous rare species, such as the black-beaked gull, the white crane, Larus relictus, and the red-crowned crane. This has earned the spot the title of "the Mecca of bird-watching" from Chinese and foreign bird-watching enthusiasts.

Nearly 1,000 migratory birds in one room waiting for release.[photobase.cn]