Since March this year, the Nenjiang River *** Nature Reserve Administration of Heilongjiang Province, together with the Wildlife Research Institute of the Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry, has carried out spring migratory bird field monitoring based on traditional manual monitoring combined with technologies such as drones, thermal imaging and AI artificial intelligence. Nearly 3,000 rare and endangered storks and cranes were recorded, the largest number observed in the same period in recent years.

The Nenjiang River Reserve is located in the hinterland of the Sanjiang Plain and was included in 2023 in the country's first batch of lists of important habitats for terrestrial wildlife. In terms of geographical location and ecological environment, it is a key distribution area for rare and endangered cranes and storks in the Sanjiang Plain region.

Since March this year, the Heilongjiang Nenjiang River *** Nature Reserve (hereinafter referred to as the "Nenjiang River Reserve") has continued its spring migratory bird monitoring work. Hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, including golden eagles, white-tailed sea eagles, herons, and geese and ducks, have successively arrived at the reserve, including more than 200 red-crowned cranes, more than 400 Oriental white storks and more than 2,000 white-naped cranes. At present, the occupancy rate of more than 100 artificial nests for Oriental white storks has reached 30%.

Liang Yuxiang, head of the Scientific Research Section of the Wildlife Research Institute of the Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry, said: "The reason this year's observation data has increased significantly compared with previous years is, first, the active efforts made by the Nenjiang River Reserve in migratory bird protection in recent years, and at the same time, the application of new observation technologies such as drones and thermal imaging has greatly improved monitoring capabilities. Next, the reserve will combine AI artificial intelligence recognition technology to continue AI algorithm training, model training and species classification work."

In recent years, the Nenjiang River Reserve has continuously explored the demonstration and application of new quality productive forces technologies featuring high technology, high efficiency and high quality, such as satellite remote sensing, big data, remote monitoring, drones and multi-habitat aerodynamic boats, in the fields of ecological environment and biodiversity protection. Through continuous interpretation of satellite remote sensing images, combined with more than 100 remote monitoring points, drones, multi-habitat aerodynamic boats and a big data platform, it has jointly built an integrated "space-air-ground" intelligent management system, effectively curbing illegal and non-compliant acts, expanding the scope and capacity of patrol and management, and greatly improving biodiversity protection and monitoring effectiveness.