After this year's Spring Festival, He Jianzhu heard about an upcoming bird race scheduled for March in Napo county, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Recently retired, the 55-year-old from Kunming, Yunnan province, eagerly looked forward to teaming up with three other birders to participate in the event.

"Many bird-watchers avoid races because they find the schedules too tight to capture quality photos, sometimes requiring them to team up with unfamiliar birders, and the experience can be quite exhausting," He told China Daily. "However, I am a huge fan of these races. They offer a fantastic opportunity to see a vast number of species over just two or three days and to explore breathtaking natural habitats. Plus, the races allow me to meet and learn from experienced birders."

Bird races are competitive team-based events where participants attempt to identify and record the highest number of bird species within a designated geographic area and time frame. These races have surged in popularity across China in recent years due to a rapidly expanding community of enthusiasts, enhanced ecological awareness, and the power of social media to coordinate and share sightings.

Since first discovering the world of birdwatching in 2018, inspired by the sight of photographers capturing images of a white-throated kingfisher in a park near her home, He has participated in several races across the country, relishing the competitive atmosphere. "Bordering with Yunnan, Napo is just a few hours from Kunming and is renowned for its rich avian life," she said. "Although I've never been to Napo, it's considered one of the best birding destinations in Guangxi. I decided to seize the opportunity to join the race."

She reached out to Dai Han, with whom she had previously teamed up for a birding event, and Xu Yongbin, a seasoned birdwatcher she met during another race. Additionally, a friend introduced her to Guo Zhichao, a young but talented birder from Hainan province.

Upon learning the registration details for the Napo Bird-watching Festival online, the four applied as a team and were thrilled to receive an invitation to be one of 15 to participate in the March 26-28 race. They named their team "Cranes Above the Clouds".

"Events held in birding hot spots are always popular," He said. "Being an active contributor to the birding report website managed by the Rosefinch Center is often a prerequisite for the opportunity to participate in the race."

The Rosefinch Center, a national nonprofit organization promoting bird-watching and bird conservation in China, organized the Napo bird race along with the local government.