Specialty Categories: Bird Watching & Ecotourism  
Best Season: March - May, September - November
Main Species: 405 species, including red-crowned crane, Siberian crane, hooded crane, pied harrier, white stork, Saunders's gull, Asian Dowitcher and Nordmann's Greenshank.
Note: The quotation may differ in June, July & Aug.

 
Birdwatching Equipments:
1. Dress: Please don't wear bright clothes. Try to wear natural colors such as grey, grass green, brown. Please wear trousers and a coat to protect yourself from insect bites. Sneakers will be helpful as well.
2. Binoculars: Birds have high vigilance; hence it is hard to observe them at close quarters. The basic equipment for birdwatchers is a pair of binoculars-  15-60-fold binoculars with tripod is recommended, a 7-10-fold will work as well.
3. Notebook and pencil with eraser: Take note of the bird's markings, movements, song, feeding habits and size. This will assit in later identifying the species.
 
Birdwatching Rules
1. Respect the birds.
2. Respect the law.
3. Do not get too close to the birds.
4. Don't catch any birds.
5. When you are taking photos of the birds, please turn off the flash.
6. Some species of birds are shy. If they hide, do not try and force them to come out by improper means.
 
Bird watching Ethics
Everyone who partakes in bird watching must always respect wildlife, wildlife habitats, and the rights of other wildlife viewers.  In any conflict of interest between birds and birdwatchers, the welfare of the birds and their environment must come first. There are some simple birding ethics- rules birders should keep in mind while out looking for feathered friends. Here are some basic rules of birding ethics:
 
*Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.
Avoid disturbing or stressing birds, especially breeding birds, which can be very susceptible to stress. They may abandon a nest of eggs or chicks if they are unduly disturbed. Similarly, don't harass them with excessive use of bird calls, and don't disturb a nest or handle eggs or chicks that you come across.
 
*Hands Off
Birders should never physically touch a bird without extreme cause. While it may be necessary to move an injured bird to a safe location or to help relocate fledglings that fall from a nest, it is always best to avoid touching birds. If it is necessary, they should be handled as little as possible. Wear gloves to avoid any bacterial contamination and quickly put the bird in a safe, calm area where they can recuperate naturally.
 
* Respect the law and the rights of others.
Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas. Take care not to offend other people while you are bird watching: respect private property and the privacy of others. Don't disrupt the enjoyment that other people are getting from their own activities.
 
* Safety First
Conscientious birders practice safe behavior not only for the birds, but also for themselves. Safety tips include:
·Remain on marked, safe trails at all times
·Wear sun protection gear such as sunscreen and sunglasses
·Stay hydrated on long birding hikes
·Inform others of your plans in case you fail to return
·Do not handle injured birds or other wildlife
·Wash hands thoroughly after cleaning or refilling feeders and bird baths
·Teach children to respect birds and observe them safely
 
Birding is one of the most popular hobbies in the world, and an ethical birder is a polite one. Birdwatching as a recreational activity can go a long way, and by abiding with the code of ethics then everyone can benefit from this great sport.
 
Bird watching Tips for Beginners
Birds are active and fast moving animals and you need to spot as many details as possible in a short period of time. There are some tips that experienced bird watchers do to maximize the short and precious time for viewing.
 
Hint 1. A Field Guide
You need a field guide for your area. A field guide is a book with pictures of the birds and tips for identifying them. Always observe first and then refer to your identification book because the bird may not remain where it can be readily observed for a long period of time.
 
Hint 2. Keep Your Eyes on the Bird
Once a bird is immediately spotted, maximize every moment of seeing and observing the bird. Keep your eye fixed on the bird and study it—absorb details of its markings, movements, song, feeding habits, and size. You may want to jot down notes or quickly sketch things that catch your eye, but don't focus too much on your jottings. You don't know how long it will be before the bird dashes off, out of sight.
 
Hint 3. Listen for Sounds
Did you hear the bird make any sounds? Will you recognize them when you hear them again? When identifying a certain song to a bird, notice the movement of the bill. This would make sure that the song is indeed coming from that specific bird.
 
Hint 4. Estimate General Size and Shape
The approximate size and shape of the bird will often give you many clues when placing it into the correct family of birds.
 
Hint 5．Take Note of Bill Characteristics and Facial Markings
Note the details of the head. Look for distinctive strips and patches of color including crown stripes, eye lines, nape color, eye arcs or rings. At the same time, make a note of the color and shape and the location of the bird's bill.
 
Hint 6. Observe Wing Bars and Tail Shape
Keep an eye out for wing bars, color patches and markings on the body. Pay attention to the color of its back and belly, the length and shape of the tail.
 
Hint 7. See the leg
Is the leg of the bird long or short? If possible, determine if its feet are webbed or it has talons.
 
Hint 8. Study Movement and Flight Patterns
Study how the bird walks and holds its tail. Observe the flight pattern, does it swoop up and down in gentle arcs with each wing beat or does it glide gently and steadily?
 
Hint 9. Determine Feeding Habits
If you have a chance, try to identify the bird’s food. Does it cling to a tree trunk and dig at the bark looking for insects? Or does it searching for insects scurrying amongst blades of grass? ……
 
Hint 10. Record the birdwatching
After the tour, write down anything you noticed including location and date. This can help you find out the birds’ species when you come back home. 
 
 
Brief Introduction of Birds in Beidaihe
Around 178 miles east of Beijing, Beidaihe is set on the coast. Regarded as one of the best places in the world to see migratory birds, it has earned an enviable reputation among western birders. Birdwatching tours are becoming  more popular.
 
The natural environment of the coast attracts large quantities of migrant birds. It is observed that about 405 species have been spotted at Beidaihe (1,200 species can be seen in China). There are 12 kinds of first class national protected birds such as the Siberian Crane, Red-crowned Crane (Japanese Crane), and Great Bustard Otis and 52 kinds of second class national protected birds.
 
Rare wild birds in Beidaihe are listed as below:
Ardeidae：Chinese Egret、Egretta garzetta、Ardeola bacchus
Laridae：Sterna hirundo、Larus ridibundus、Larus argentatus
Charadriidae：Pluvialis squatarola、Charadrius alexandrinus、Himantopus himantopus、Numenius phaeopus
Scolopacidae： Numenius arquata、Calidris ruficollis、Calidris alpina、Tringa guttifer、Xenus cinereus
Anatidae：Anas platyrhynchos、
Podicipediae：Tachybaptus ruficollis
Rallidae：Gallinula chloropus
Ploceidae：Passer montanus
Hirundinidae： Hirundo rustica、Hirundo daurica
Alcedinidae： Halcyon pileata、Alcedo atthis
Picidae： Picoides major
Muscicapidae： Locustella lanceolata、Saxicola torquata