CHANGSHA — At 8:30 pm, the high-beam lamps standing in a square went out on time. With the hustle and bustle of pedestrians fading gradually, the birds perched near the square began flying by.

Even during the eight-day holiday for the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day — occasions traditionally for festive illuminations — officials in Lanshan county, Hunan province, extinguished the lamps every day to encourage migratory birds to fly by.

"Haunted by lights, the birds migrating at night are prone to get lost because of phototaxis (movement toward light). The 'lights out' program has helped promote the birds' migrations," said Zeng Chengbin, an official in charge of road maps from the county's urban management and comprehensive law enforcement bureau, adding that neon lights are also turned off.

Initiated in 2020, the program is part of the county's efforts to protect migratory birds and curb illegal hunting. This year, the program will last until the end of the peak migration period this month. Located on the northern side of the Nanling Mountains, Lanshan is an important passageway for migratory birds.

In the past, villagers often lit up the night on hills to attract the birds and hunt them, causing the populations of such birds to shrink. "Fowling was a major source of income for a long time, and almost the entire village was engaged in it," said 52-year-old Zhang Xiuqiang, one of the former bird hunters.

Things have changed since 2012, when the concept of a "beautiful China" was proposed as a grand goal for ecological progress. Hunting birds was prohibited from that year on in Lanshan, and the local people started to explore how to better protect migratory birds and live in harmony with them.

Making use of its pristine waters and green mountains, the county has developed ecological tourism, with many former bird hunters, including Zhang, now working at resorts. They also serve as part-time guardians at three stations set up for bird protection.

Zhang said they are on duty from 7 pm every evening to the early morning. "Now, it's the peak period for birds to fly southward, so we have to be vigilant," he said.

Their efforts have paid off. According to the latest observation data this year, the number of migratory birds flying over the county has surged to 3.5 million from 2 million in 2012, with the number of species exceeding 100 from 60 in 2012.

Xinhua