Xieye Chinese Water Deer Protected Area--Birding: Data Collecting and Research

May 12th, 2024— First Time Participating In Bird Data Record and Research Activities and First Time Walking Into A Protected Area

This past Sunday, I participated in a bird data record and research activity at a protected area for Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis). This was precious and unique since protected areas are not usually open to the public. For my bird data and research, I recorded all the types of birds I heard or saw in the protected area, the number of birds, and where I specifically heard each bird.

An Indian peafowl That Is Saved By The Researchers (national level 2 protected animal)

The environment-protected area was tightly packed with trees and was a natural “oxygen bar,” as shown below on the right in the picture.

Environment In The Protected Area

It was divided into three parts: one for non-breeding Chinese Water Deer, one for breeding, and another for preparation of release into the wild. The protected area was 321062m^2 and about 200 Chinese Water Deer lived there. The Chinese Water Deer is a fascinating little creature. It is the only type of deer that doesn’t have horns. Instead of horns, they have very long teeth. Male deer teeth are usually 8-9cm long, sticking out of their mouth and making them look like a vampire. Female deer teeth, on the other hand, are usually 1-2cm long, thus hidden in their mouth. The adult Water Deer is about 1m long in size and is extremely timid. During the day, it hides and camouflages itself in bushes; if a person or other creature approaches, it immediately hops away like a rabbit, making it especially hard to find during the day. Since these deer are very cowardly creatures, researchers put infrared cameras in the protected area to keep track of the deer.

A Silver Pheasant Saved By The Researchers (national level 2 protected animal)

We walked into the thick woods of the protected area. The conditions for birding were not optimistic since we couldn’t see birds through the thick woods and leaves. In addition, the birds there are very timid just like the deer and scare much more easily of humans than birds in urban parks do. After gaining basic information about the types of birds in the area, we headed on to find the Chinese Water Deer. After about an hour of intense scouring among and beyond the bushes, we finally discovered a female Chinese Water Deer. The deer was tiny and alert. It used its large eyes with long eyelashes and stared at all of us. She didn’t move for about five minutes and then suddenly leaped away as we tried to get closer. Although it was only a flash of seeing the deer, it was worth the whole trip.