Well, a somewhat obvious title for a blog post from China these days, particularly from somebody who pretends to have at least a basic grasp of world literature (and who has recently watched “Looking for Alaska” with its frequent allusions to another one of Marquez` works).
Though Shanghai is not the center of the virus outbreak (that would be Wuhan, about 800 km from here), the impact of the disease is strong. Streets are much emptier than usual, the holidays have been extended, and many international flights have been canceled. Being a bird would have some real advantages during these days, even though I am among the people who – if given a choice – would rather be invisible than being capable of flying (I guess that means I prefer being a bird watcher to being a bird).
Also, the number of Shanghai eBird lists has dropped dramatically, partly because many birding hotspots such as public parks are closed, but partly also because people try to stay indoors as much as possible.
Still, I ventured out to Nanhui. The hotel at the seaside that used to be popular with birders has been turned into a quarantine center for people from Wuhan. Police and sanitary workers patrol the area and warn ignorant people like me of the virus. The birds do not seem to mind much – maybe they are happy about the reduced number of people …
A slightly bizarre thing happened on my way back home. Coming from the seaside, I wanted to drive through a village that is on the route between the seaside and the highway to central Shanghai. There, a not-very-competent-looking team of three elderly people acted as a vigilante committee, asking me where I wanted to go and eventually asking me to turn around, which would have added about 30 km to my trip. Of course, this did not make any sense from a medical point of view – a car driving through a village is very unlikely to spread any disease. So, I just drove on – my Chinese was just not good enough to understand them …
I do not have any specific bird photos that are related to the virus. Instead, here are just some photos of fairly ordinary birds, all taken at Nanhui in the last few weeks.
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-throated Bushtit
Brown-eared Bulbul
Chinese Grosbeak
Chinese Penduline Tit
Common Kestrel
Crested Myna
Daurian Redstart
Dusky Thrush
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Green Sandpiper
Grey Heron
Grey-capped Greenfinch
Light-vented Bubul
Little Egret
Long-tailed Shrike
Oriental Magpie
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Pallas Bunting
Plain Prinia
Rustic Bunting
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
White-cheeked Starling
White`s Thrush
Yellow-throated Bunting
A more detailed (and frankly, better) report on birding in China during these times was written by my friend Steven Bonta. It can be found on shanghaibirding.com
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