Birding Tour of Napahai Lake in Shangrila

Shangri-La(香格里拉) has not had a real snow this winter, from mid-November to December, the whole Napa Sea(纳帕海) of Shangri-La area reduced into a wetland grassland in a short period of time, and the meadow come out of the water. The average temperature hovers between 12 degrees below zero and 15 degrees above zero, which is very suitable for the survival of the migratory birds such as Black necked crane. The observers in the reserves find that 316 migratory birds have gone to the Napa Sea for winter currently.
Birds Home-Napahai Lake

Every autumn and winter, the Black necked crane, bar-head goose, white crane, yellow duck, sheldrake come to Napa Sea(纳帕海) in groups for the winter, various birds are sporting and flying in the wide grass and the surface of the water, this kind of unforgettable sight make the open space fell more vivid. It is worth mentioning that we can find the rare birds Black necked crane in the Napa Sea grassland where gathered lots of birds. There are only 1000 Black necked cranes all over the world, and they only distributed in the Qinghai-Tibetan(青藏高原) and Yunnan Guizhou Plateau (云贵高原), they spend their summer in the Qinghai-Tibetan and spend their winter in the Yunnan Guizhou Plateau, the beautiful Napa Sea is their wintering habitat for thousands of years. In Napa Sea , the surround green cliff and on its top of snow, and the flying migratory birds are reflected in the deep water area, everything in the Napa Sea is charming to the eyes.

Red-crowned Crane

Yellow Duck

Black Stork

The best sightseeing season of Napa Sea(纳帕海) prairie is the end of October each year to March next year. When comes winter holiday, it is a good choice for parents to take their children visit Napa Sea to see various birds, identify birds and enjoy the beauty of nature. And there is a little tip: Don’t forget to take your camera and telescope!

Napa Sea(纳帕海), which has experienced such problems as from primary forest, huge body of water to the farmland and winter grassland expanding due to the artificial drainage, along with the shrunk of forest area and the decrease of wetland’s water conservation capacity, those kinds of problems always caused floods and other natural disasters. After a series of environmental problems and natural disasters caused by the destruction of the environment and the huge damage left by the surrounding mountains where people always randomly mining, people are reminded to think about the protection of nature. In the late 1990s, along with the conservation projects of nature forests, returning farmland to forest and other protection projects were implemented, the vegetation around the Napa Sea began to recover gradually.

The past and present of Napa Sea(纳帕海)

In the graphics and textures book birds of Napa Sea(纳帕海的鸟) which wrote by Han Lianxian(韩联宪) and photographed by Peng Jiansheng(彭建生), describe Napa Sea like this:“ The first time I went to Napa Sea was in December, 1984……After been to Zhongdian(中甸) and Napa Sea , the impressions left in my mind were deserted, poor communication and bad whether”(Zhongdian was not renamed as Shanghai- La at that time). “The winter of 1988, the number of Black necked cranes are 2000 in China, and this kind of bird was listed as endangered species…… I stayed there for three days and I drove to Napa Sea every morning…… I observed and recorded the quantity and the proportion of the grown birds and little birds. After serveral years of protection and propaganda of the Black necked cranes, its quantity has increase gradually”. “ The spring of 2002,….. at that time, Shangri-La(香格里拉) hopes to apply National Natural Reserve for this three area: Napa Sea(纳帕海), Bita Sea(碧塔海) and Shudu Lake(蜀都湖),…… I investigate the birds and animals throughout 3 areas…… the number of Black necked cranes that live through the winter in Napa Sea has increase to about 250”.

After 2005, entrusted by the local government, teacher Han Lianxian(韩联宪) as the head to engaged the research work, in cooperation with local governments, non-governmental organizations, they carry out some training projects such as bird protection, bird watching knowledge and ecotourism in the surrounding community, to teach people how to protect birds and environment better, thus can help the local residents to benefit in the rapid development of the tourism industry in Shangri-La.

Napa Sea(纳帕海), which has experienced such problems as from primary forest, huge body of water to the

farmland and winter grassland expanding due to the artificial drainage, along with the shrunk of forest area and the decrease of wetland’s water conservation capacity, those kinds of problems always caused floods and other natural disasters, “Since the summer flood of 2002, the 214 National Road has flooded, in order to ensure the smooth flow of traffic, the Road Transport Beraeu temporary heightening the subgrade of the highway …… With the help of non-governmental environmental protection organization Shambhala manor(香巴拉庄园) and the county government, Napa village bought rubber boats and iron ship to solve the traffic problems”.

After a series of environmental problems and natural disasters caused by the destruction of the environment and the huge damage left by the surrounding mountains where people always randomly mining, people are reminded to think about the protection of nature. In the late 1990s, along with the conservation projects of nature forests, returning farmland to forest and other protection projects were implemented, the vegetation around the Napa Sea(纳帕海) began to recover gradually. However, due to the high altitude, long winter and slow growth of plants, it will take a long time to “ restore the original ecological vegetation”.

　　Black-necked Crane

The bird situation of the Napa sea(纳帕海) in winter

since 1983, Napa Sea was approved the establishment for black necked cranes wintering habitat conservation by the Yunnan provincial government, and followed realized the establishment of the provincial reserve, in 2004, it was approved as a International important wetland.

The Napa sea(纳帕海) is a seasonal plateau lake. In summer, the water area is vast and dry rapidly in winter. For example, from 2007 to 2008, the water volume is reduced from 1300 hectares to 600 hectares in winter. According to the continuous observation which last 30 years, teacher Han and other researchers drew a conclusion that the Napa sea’s waterfowl occupies a dominate position in the quantity on the migratory bird, and in early winter, the type and number of the sea bird is rich and various, take the water birds for example, only this one specie, it has 50 kind of types and the quantity is more than 20000, along with the reduction of water area in the middle period, the species and number of waterfowl also reduced. To the late winter, the species of the waterfowl is the half of the early period, and the number is about 1/3 compared to the early; on the other hand, thanks to the joint efforts these years, the number of Black necked cranes maintained a good momentum of growth, and the population of Black necked cranes which stay at Napa Sea for wintering has basically more than 300.

Napa Sea(纳帕海) is surrounded by hills on three sides and opens to the Zhongdian basin(中甸盆地), Forests, meadows, swamps, lakes, farmland and villages are located in the middle position which surrounded by the blue sky, white clouds and snow mountains. Besides, it is an ideal place for migratory birds to wintering in winter because it is located in the passage of the bird migration in western China.

At the beginning of the December 2016, the national coastal waterbird survey project coordinator meeting was held in Napa Sea(纳帕海) , the representatives who participating in the meeting from all over the country conducted a two-days survey from 6 to 7, they totally recorded 37 species of waterbirds and the number is more than 30 thousands, among those birds, the number of coot nearly a half, and among a large number of geese and ducks, the number of Pochards, bar headed goose, and ruddy shelduck is numerous. In addition, there is a particular recording of black necked cranes more than 280, black stork more than 230, white tailed eagle more than 40 and 1 Haliaeetus leucoryphus etc…….

　　White-tailed Eagle

In the spare time of the lake waterfowl synchronous statistical work, it’s surely to visit the botanical garden which on the highland of the lake and the quiet village alongside the lake. Every village beside the Napa sea(纳帕海) has its own holy mountain. The local residents have a spontaneous and voluntary protection willing for the animals and plants in the mountain. They also represent the inheritance of the long customs and religious culture in the Tibetan area.

　　Three-banded rosefinch

　　Yunnan nuthatch

　　Rufous-breasted accentor

　　Grey-headed bullfinch

　　Common merganser

　　Chestnut-eared bunting

　　Common raven

　　Brown-headed Gull

　Rufous-tailed babbler

　　Black stork

　　Northern lapwing

　Coal tit

　　Chinese fulvetta

Guide: bird watching position, transportation, food and accommodation

The elevation of Napa Sea(纳帕海) is about 3200 meters, it is located in northwest of Zhongdian County(中甸县) of Shangri-La(香格里拉) and the distance between the two places is about 8 kilometers, and it is about 22 kilometers from Shangri-La airport, 40 kilometers from the road which surrounded the lake, you can self-driving or ride a bike around the lake. Some paths lead to private territory, and please obtain the owner’s consent before driving.

Special reminder: Please do not go to the path where is the extension of the lake to avoid get stuck. Shambhala manor(香巴拉庄园) is a good place for bird experts and common fans, it also provide accommodation, car rental, pick-up service, and all of this need to make an appointment in advance.

There are 6 bird watching observations in the Napa sea around the lake.

From the county to the botanical garden, the best place to observe and take photo of the stork is the side of the road where need you go through the Chizongdala(吹宗达拉) and the Napa Sea(纳帕海), and this place is near to the shallow lake.

In the morning of the Alpine botanical garden, the type and number of the birds is very rich. Ticket allowed to buy at 8 am. You can open the gate in advance if you want to observe the birds and take photos, and pay the ticket fee when you leave the garden in the noon. There are many pheasant around the garden; the birds are various and numerous around the office building, medicinal botanical garden and the highway; in the large parking lot, you can has a superb view of the north area of the Napa sea(纳帕海). There is a door beside the parking lot, you can observe the shrub habitat birds if you step along the ladder, red winged birds love the overhanging cliff, yellow eyed babbler are easy to see.

Alpine botanical garden is located in the Shambhala manor road, if you want to go there, go along with the northwest corner of La Lang Road, after the cottage, farmland, go along the road to the mountains and continue to go, the birds are very good alongside, spot winged rosefinch, mountain Fulvetta, Dian, Chinese babax, white throated Redstart is incredible, and white tailed Eagle love rest in trees on the steep hill.

There are many field birds surrounded Napa village alongside the lake there are many waterfowl which is easy to see, go for a walk in the spare time and you will be impressed by the beauty of nature.

The marsh and grassland where the large raptor like to stay is in the orientation of the Shambhala Manor south and along the lake road to the Boulogne(布伦), Na Qu River(纳曲河).

There is a little hill called “Dari” which on the side of the lake and in the front of the Shambhala manor, it’s terrain is very high and you can drive from rural road to the foot of the mountain, then climb the mountain there is a big platform on the top of the hill, from there, you can have a panoramic view of the middle of the Napa Lake.