For him, the birds have become close companions in his daily life. Day after day, he quietly protects and maintains the ecosystem of his garden, preserving a peaceful environment for the flock of birds.
A connection with birds
Mr. Le Van Chia said that his connection with the flocks of wild birds began around 2006, when the first flock of several hundred herons flew to his family's garden, which was planted with longan, coconut, and mangosteen trees. The garden, which used little fertilizer and pesticides and had natural vegetation, gradually became a familiar resting place for the birds. By mid-2008, the number of birds had increased to thousands, filling the entire garden. Over time, not only herons but also many other species of egrets and wild birds came to nest, breed, and settle there.
Although the birds reduced the yield of the longan orchard and damaged many trees, Mr. Chia still decided to keep the orchard as a habitat for the birds. Believing that "good land attracts birds," he strived to preserve the environment and create a peaceful space for the birds to live. To protect the birds from hunting, he and his wife even used their savings to build a wire mesh fence around the orchard.
Mr. Chia shared: “Initially, only a few hundred herons flew back to sleep in the garden, and I liked them so much that I kept them. After a few years, the flock remained, flying out to forage during the day and returning in the evening. When I saw them build nests and have chicks, I cherished and became even more attached to this garden.”
Having a thorough understanding of the living habits of each species, Mr. Chia enthusiastically recounted the characteristics and habitats of the birds in his garden. Through his simple stories, everyone could feel the special love the old farmer had for the wild birds for nearly 20 years.
Mr. Chia said that recently, hundreds of snail-eating storks and many other bird species have come to reside in his family's garden. Every afternoon, the flock of snail-eating storks flies back, creating a lively scene in the peaceful countryside.
Heartbroken when wild birds are shot down.
Mr. Le Van Chia said that his garden, spanning over 2.6 hectares, has been frequently targeted by strangers who poach birds for many years. Recently, this situation has become even more complicated as the number of birds and egrets returning to the garden has increased significantly. Every day, he patrols the garden to monitor their living conditions. At night, if he hears any commotion from the birds, he immediately gets up to check, knowing someone is poaching them. He has built several temporary shelters in the garden and patrols with a flashlight to prevent such incidents. When he finds birds or egrets seriously injured, he brings them inside to care for them until they recover before releasing them back into the wild. Looking towards the trees where the flock of birds is residing, Mr. Chia confided, "I only hope this situation will end so that the birds and egrets can live in peace and safety."
Faced with the difficulties Mr. Le Van Chia faced in preserving the natural habitat for the birds, in 2023, specialized agencies advised the Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee to issue a plan to protect the bird sanctuary area; at the same time, they strengthened the placement of signs to raise awareness and prohibit hunting wild birds. Recently, the Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee directed relevant agencies to survey and assess the actual situation of the sanctuary to develop conservation solutions for the future.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province, surveys show that the number of birds in Mr. Le Van Chia's garden is quite large, with a peak of over 2,000 egrets recorded in 2018. Many other wild bird species such as white storks, snail storks, cormorants, etc., have also gradually gathered to reside there, forming the diverse bird population we see today. Authorities assess the Hai Chia bird sanctuary as an area with valuable natural resources and biodiversity that needs conservation. This area is not only significant for its ecological environment but also serves research, education, and tourism development in the future.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Nhieu, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tra Con commune, for nearly 20 years, Mr. Hai Chia has always devoted much effort to preserving the bird sanctuary. Despite having to dedicate a large area of his garden as a habitat for the birds, he is willing to sacrifice economic benefits to conserve the sanctuary. The local government highly appreciates this meaningful work. In the future, the local authorities will continue to cooperate with him to maintain and preserve the bird sanctuary; and at the same time, request relevant departments and agencies to provide support to protect biodiversity and raise community awareness in wildlife conservation and ecological environment preservation.
Deeply moved by the attention and protection given to the birds' habitat by the authorities, Mr. Le Van Chia shared: "For many years, I have always tried to preserve this place so that birds and egrets have a peaceful place to live. I only hope that I still have enough health to continue to accompany and protect the birds so that they can live peacefully, returning here every day to roost and breed."
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/lao-nong-danh-26-ha-dat-cho-dan-chim-troi-cu-ngu-20260521160916641.htm
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