Large flocks of birds have gathered along the rivers that feed into Qinghai Lake in northwest China, feasting on naked carp as they migrate upstream for their annual spawning.
Every year from May to August, naked carp in Qinghai Lake begin their incredible journey, swimming against strong currents from the saltwater lake to freshwater rivers to spawn. The rich fish resources attract tens of thousands of birds to live and breed in the area.
As the largest river flowing into Qinghai Lake, the Buha River now becomes the stage for a dramatic struggle between predator and prey. Brown-headed gulls snatch naked carp from the river but often lose their catch to competitors, triggering chaotic chases on the ground and mid-air battles. Some gulls engage in tug-of-war over a single fish. Meanwhile, cormorants ambush from below, bursting out of the water with fish clenched in their beaks.
The Qinghai Lake naked carp was once on the verge of extinction due to overfishing and habitat loss. It was listed on the China Species Red List in 2004.
Carp migration sparks bird feeding frenzy at China's Qinghai Lake
The Ministry of Water Resources on Saturday activated a Level-IV emergency response for flood control in northeast China’s Liaoning and Jilin provinces, after recent heavy rains raised the risk of flooding.
From Saturday through Monday, cumulative precipitation in northern and western Liaoning, as well as most of Jilin, is expected to reach 40 to 60 millimeters, with some areas possibly exceeding 100 millimeters, according to the ministry.
Several rivers, including the middle reaches of the Hunhe and Suzi rivers in Liaoning, and the Huifa, Xiaogushan, and Aolong rivers in Jilin, are forecast to rise above flood warning levels.
In response, the ministry dispatched two working groups to the affected areas on Saturday to guide local flood prevention efforts.
Around 09:05 on Saturday, heavy rain and upstream inflows pushed the water level at the Gongnong Bridge hydrological station on the Hunhe River in Liaoning, to 37.40 meters, with a flow rate of 1,980 cubic meters per second, and levels continued to rise.
In response, the Liaoning Provincial River and Reservoir Management Service Center issued a blue flood warning, urging units along the river and the public to step up prevention measures. It marked the first flood warning issued in Liaoning this year.
China activates emergency response for flood control in Liaoning, Jilin
China activates emergency response for flood control in Liaoning, Jilin
