Bird Guides, Birding

Bird Guides of the World: Zhang Lin, China

September 10, 2024 by Editor 1 Comment

What is your favorite bird species?

That would be the Spoon-billed Sandpiper

What is your name, and where do you live?

I am Zhang Lin, living in Shanghai, China

What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?

Eastern China, Sichuan, etc

How long have you been a bird guide?

18 years

How did you get into bird guiding?

I was bored of my previous work

What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most?

I like discovering the unknown; I dislike the overuse of playback

What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that you think are the most interesting for visiting birders?

  • Spoon-billed Sandpiper
  • Nordmann’s Greenshank
  • Siberian Crane
  • Chinese Crested Tern
  • Blue-crowned Laughingthrush
  • Yellow-breasted Bunting
  • Jankowski’s Bunting

Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds, and the approximate duration of such a trip

Drive from Shanghai to Rudong in Jiangsu Province for waders and other migrants. Drive from Rudong to Jiulongshan in Zhejiang Province for migrating raptors, swifts, etc., and drive back to Shanghai for a total of three days in September and October

What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area? (for example, what to bring, which season to choose, etc.)

Autumn is better than spring to see the Spoon-billed Sandpiper – the number on any given day is higher as they completely molt at Rudong. Also, tides in autumn are higher so there are more days with the right tide to gather many birds close to seawalls. In winter, Guangdong Province is good as it holds the largest wintering population of Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

If any reader of 10,000 Birds is interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?

I can be contacted at zhanglinastro@163.com