Birds of China

Author: Zhang Cizhu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-04-01
Features:
The order of all living beings in the process of exploring the mysteries of the universe and the origin of life, to date, no life phenomena or signs of life have been discovered on other celestial bodies in the solar system. Earth nurtures life, and the land gives birth to all things—seemingly accidental yet not accidental. Biodiversity, in its myriad forms and ecological diversity, becomes a genetic reservoir for life in the universe. The creations of nature, scattered across mountains, rivers, seas, plains, skies, and all directions, display landscapes of non-living matter while living beings present rhythms. Where the wind blows, floating clouds emerge from peaks, and pines rustle through valleys; where the land is low, water ripples, and waterfalls roar; when rain pours, petals fall in abundance, and thousands of leaves create myriad sounds; when lightning strikes, thunder follows, breaking the darkness and stillness. Spring insects buzz, while autumn is quiet; reptiles crawl, hibernating in winter; fish swim and rest; birds soar and return to trees; mammals hunt and rest, alternating between day and night. Still objects move, living beings rest, movement contains stillness, and stillness contains movement; stillness and movement are relative yet combined; landscapes converge, and artistic realms blend. Living beings and non-living matter depend on and interact with each other, intertwined in life and death. Humans rely on the environment for survival, and the environment supports human life. Humans are inseparable from the environment, and the environment still accommodates humans. Humans and the environment coexist, tangible and intangible, audible and inaudible, conscious and unconscious. The objective world evolves, and life flourishes in this way. How magnificent Earth is! How fortunate humans are! In dynamic environments, observing calmly brings freedom; in static environments, emotions shift, sparking inspiration. The vast world and all things in it, throughout history, inspire people’s comparisons, imagination, creativity, and reverie; they evoke poetry, artistry, literary thoughts, musicality, dance, and conversation. Living beings must occupy space, and survival is bound by time. Environments do not last forever, species are rare in perpetuity, nothing is immortal, and humans cannot escape aging. Ancient cultures are buried in ruins; fields have become seas, and seas have become fields, with the rise and fall of time. Fossilized new species, the rise and fall of organisms, dried rivers and canals, the past and the present—desert cities, ruined towers, withered trees reborn, and the cycle of renewal. Reflecting on the past and looking to the future becomes historical contemplation and a lament for the present. Though few things are eternal, humans retain hope. Earth is home to over nine thousand bird species. Scientific estimates suggest that by the end of this century, up to four hundred or even five hundred bird species may be extinct, nearly three times the number of extinctions over the past four hundred years, primarily due to the deterioration of the ecological environment. Natural disasters are inevitable, but human misfortunes are man-made. Earth is the only one, yet it holds countless species, belonging not only to humans but also to all living beings. Looking backward and forward, we must focus on the present and hope for the future. Is there hope? Is there hope? It lies in human actions. Create beautiful environments, maintain ecological balance, show kindness to the environment, and benefit yourselves while considering future generations. Humans bear a sacred mission, a heavy burden with a long journey. Gazing at the scenery, exploring the world, each environment evokes a different mood, stirring emotions and inspiring thoughts. The Birds of China extensively collects and compiles ecological images of wild birds in the field. The images aim for clarity, poses for liveliness, and colors for elegance. Through meticulous organization, a wealth of ecological data on wild birds is accumulated, accompanied by descriptive text, covering broad aspects with illustrations. Most photographs were taken in the wild over twelve years, covering tens of thousands of miles across the motherland. Through persistent effort and accumulation, the best were selected and compiled. The accompanying text references literature, compiling data from bird scientists and scholars in China since the 1950s, as well as previous works from around the world, along with the author’s own field observations. This collection represents the collaborative research of bird workers in China. It serves as a visual reference for bird lovers, photographers, field observers, cultural research, historical references, literary and artistic inspiration, and popular science education, offering a modest contribution to bird culture, a sincere gift to readers, and a bond with the nine thousand species of birds.