BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="martintbird" data-source="post: 1641647" data-attributes="member: 18959">Hi Frank and Mark:Bit late responding.Good if can make the Bird Museum of some use; sad if it's already starting to seem a bit run down.Yes, festival should be in November. Maybe around 7-12, or even later. (Records from early last century even had big crane movements in Oct)I've mentioned to George Archibald, director of ICF; he thinks a good idea, but not sure if he can bring people - he'll be leading a China trip from late Nov next year.As well as trying for observations on Happy Island, I'd like to see people having a look for stopovers - some are known, but more observations could be useful, esp on days when weather seems duff for visible migration.Hope Tian Ma Hu proves good; and that a crane flurry before you leave, Frank.I'd thought Qilihai chiefly a tidal lagoon.Outlook for Poyang and other Yangzi wetlands not good:<a href="http://www.panda.org/wwf_news/?180063/Yangtze-warned-to-prepare-for-more-droughts-floods-and-storms" target="_blank">http://www.panda.org/wwf_news/?180063/Yangtze-warned-to-prepare-for-more-droughts-floods-and-storms</a>Dongting, another vast wetland of huge importance to wetland birds - esp Lesser Whitefronts - also in bad shape right now:<a href="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-11/04/content_8915056.htm" target="_blank">http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-11/04/content_8915056.htm</a>On different note: can be good place to visit, for anyone reading who might have chance.Gretchen: as to Chinese calendar; I remember back in 86, a restaurant guy telling us a certain day would be "ting lung" - very cold; he was quite excited about this, adamant based on a calendar. But, proved just a regular day.Migration timing going increasingly haywire with climate change, I think; even if birds stay further north - as seems trend - might still be harsh spells that can prove sudden and lethal.Martin</blockquote>

Verification