Four new bird species found at 6th XTBG Birding Festival

The discovery of four new bird species was the unexpected highlight of the 6th Birding Festival of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) held in Southwest China's Yunnan Province from Sunday to Tuesday.

Bird at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. (Photo provided to China Daily)

Bird at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. (Photo provided to China Daily)

The discovery brings the total number of bird species at the garden to 271.

Bird at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. (Photo provided to China Daily)

Bird at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. (Photo provided to China Daily)

The festival attracted numerous enthusiastic birdwatchers and bird or environmental protection organizations.

Bird at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. (Photo provided to China Daily)

Bird at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. (Photo provided to China Daily)

Many of them aimed to find the previously known 267 species of birds at XTBG and its neighboring green stone forest.

Bird at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. (Photo provided to China Daily)

SEATTLE (AP) — Sue Bird helped the Seattle Storm to four WNBA titles. Now, she will continue guiding the franchise as one of its owners.

Team owners, Force 10 Hoops, said Wednesday that Bird has joined the ownership group. No financial details were provided about the transaction.

Bird said in a team statement her involvement with the Storm will continue to grow the game.

“Investing in women's sports isn't just about passion,” she said. “It's smart business.”

Business has been good for the Storm during Bird's nearly two decades as a player.

She was the No. 1 overall pick by Seattle in the 2002 WNBA draft out of UConn and played 19 seasons. She retired after the 2022 season as the league's career assists leader with 3,234.

Bird was part of WNBA championships with the Storm in 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020.

Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel said Bird's knowledge of the game and the league, plus her business acumen “make her a superb addition,”

The ownership group recently opened the Seattle Storm Center for Basketball Performance, a new, $64 million practice facility.

WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

FILE - Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird brings the ball up against the Washington Mystics during the second half of Game 1 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Aug. 18, 2022, in Seattle. The Storm's owners, Force 10 Hoops, said Wednesday, April 24, 2024, that Bird has joined the ownership group. Bird said in a team statement her involvement with the Storm will continue to grow the game. “Investing in women's sports isn't just about passion,” she said. “It's smart business.” (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)