(Photo/Shao Dan)

A total of 179 bird species was recorded within 24 hours during a competition held in Nanjing, setting a new record as the competition marked its eighth edition.

As part of the 2024 Jiangsu Bird Loving Week, this year’s competition featured 16 teams on a journey of observing and recording birds from 12:00 on April 20 to 12:00 on April 21. The event also attracted primary and secondary school students, with three of the 16 teams comprised mainly of teenagers.

The result was announced at the opening ceremony of the Bird Loving Week, held at the Hongshan Forest Zoo in Nanjing on April 22.

In recent years, Nanjing has continuously improved its ecological environment. By the end of last year, Nanjing boasted 198,000 hectares of forested area, achieving a forest coverage rate of 31.96%, the highest in the province for six consecutive years. The Nanjing section of the Yangtze River also features a number of wetland parks recognized at the provincial level and above.

Beyond the birdwatching competition, the program will also include lectures on environmental protection.