Discover the land of birds in the heart of heritage

Known as the “land of birds”, Thung Nham Bird Garden is located in Thung Nham Eco-tourism Area, Nam Hoa Lu Ward, Ninh Binh Province, famous as the largest natural bird garden in the North. This bird garden is also located in the core area of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex - World Cultural and Natural Heritage, recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2014. Thung Nham Bird Garden is being actively managed and preserved by local authorities and the tourist area.

Management and conservation of Thung Nham Bird Garden is strictly implemented, absolutely prohibiting all acts of hunting, capturing, harming individual birds as well as destroying their habitat. Photo: Thuy Dung/VNA

Discover the land of birds in the heart of heritage

* Variety of birds

Thung Nham Bird Garden is located in the middle of the cool Tien Lake, about 18 hectares wide in Thung Nham Eco- tourism Area. Since ancient times, this natural lake has played an important role in the lives of local people. Not only is it a place that provides abundant aquatic resources, Tien Lake is also a sacred place, closely associated with the spiritual life of local people.

With its location hidden deep among the limestone mountains, forming a natural wall of protection, this place has become an ideal "home" for birds to come to live and breed. Over the past 20 years, Thung Nham Bird Garden has become a stopover for many species of birds, with the number increasing over time. Some of the bird species here are rare wild animals, contributing significantly to the conservation and enhancement of the biodiversity value of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex.

Birds in Thung Nham are friendly and close to humans. Therefore, visitors can easily approach and observe them at close range without scaring them or leaving them. Each bird species in Thung Nham has its own unique beauty, converging in the "common home", creating a colorful picture of wild nature. Coming to Thung Nham Bird Garden, visitors have the opportunity to admire with their own eyes the wild beauty of flocks of birds spreading their wings and flying freely in the sky.

Tourist Ngo Thi Minh from Hanoi commented that the most valuable thing here is the pristine natural environment. This is a rare eco-tourism area that still retains most of its wild features and rich flora and fauna ecosystems. When coming to Thung Nham Bird Garden, visitors have the opportunity to see with their own eyes flocks of birds soaring in the bright afternoon sunlight, chirping to call each other back to their nests. The majestic and immense mountain scenery creates a magnificent natural picture, leaving a deep and unforgettable impression in everyone's heart. Visitors here can also enjoy the quietness and purity of nature.

Coming to Thung Nham Bird Garden, visitors will be able to admire the wild beauty of birds.

During the peak breeding season, from August to April of the lunar calendar, the number of birds in Thung Nham Bird Garden reaches tens of thousands of individuals. On the high cliffs are the habitats of cranes and herons; in the medium-sized bamboo bushes are the habitats of white storks, and egrets nest scattered throughout the reed bushes near the water surface. In winter, only a small number of birds migrate to the South, the majority live in the garden and thrive when spring and summer come.

Mr. Dinh Quan Phuong, a boatman at Thung Nham Ecotourism Area, said that not only does he introduce tourists to the unique ecosystem, the living habits of each bird species and the ecological value of the bird garden, but throughout the tour, the boatmen always proactively remind tourists to comply with the regulations of the tourist area: do not make noise, do not litter, do not use flying equipment or approach the bird nesting area to avoid affecting the natural life of the birds. In particular, each boatman raises his sense of responsibility, promptly detects and reports when there are signs of environmental encroachment such as illegal hunting, encroachment into restricted areas.

* Sustainable conservation

Thung Nham Bird Garden is currently home to 46 species of birds such as: Storks, Egrets, Egrets, Le le, Teal, Red-whiskered Bulbuls, Starlings... with about 5,000 bird nests of all kinds. In particular, there are two rare bird species listed in the Vietnam Red Book: Heng Hac and Hong Hoang (Earth Phoenix). In which, Hong Hoang is considered a symbol of nobility, authority and luck.

In the context of increasingly narrowing natural habitats for species, Thung Nham Bird Garden is being actively preserved and sustainably developed by local authorities and the Management Board of the Tourist Area. Management and conservation of the bird garden are strictly implemented, absolutely prohibiting all acts of hunting, harming individual birds, as well as destroying their habitat. A system of signs and visiting regulations are also deployed to ensure that visitors comply with the rules when approaching bird habitats. Protection sanctions are issued and strictly implemented to limit any impact on the flora and fauna ecosystem.

There is always a patrol team in the bird garden and special-use forest. Measures such as providing a small amount of food for birds during the low season to support the maintenance of the bird flock; planting trees to create a favorable living environment for the birds to gather and nest; and strict regulations for visitors on hygiene and silence in the bird garden area are effectively implemented. In addition, the Management Board also actively coordinates with local authorities to propagate to people not to hunt, to protect the number of flocks when the birds fly out to find food.

Ms. Pham Lan Huong, in charge of the Tourism Department, Thung Nham Eco-tourism Area, said that the Management Board of the tourist area has organized safe eco-tours at the Bird Garden, aiming to bring visitors an experience close to wild nature. These tours are not simply about exploring the landscape, but also incorporate environmental education elements, contributing to spreading the message of living in harmony with nature, raising community awareness in protecting the ecosystem. This is also the sustainable direction that the tourist area pursues in developing tourism associated with conservation.

In the coming time, Thung Nham Ecotourism Area will continue to promote the conservation of bird gardens; focusing on strengthening coordination with functional agencies and environmental experts to monitor and study the living and reproductive habits of bird species. On that basis, the tourist area will develop and adjust protection plans in a more appropriate, sustainable and effective direction, ensuring the maintenance of biodiversity as well as the natural habitat for bird species.

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/kham-pha-xu-so-cua-cac-loai-chim-giua-long-di-san-250814095430154.html