Bird Paradise
"Bird Paradise" is located at the intersection of Wancheng Fumin Street and Fengyuan Street. It was originally called "Red Sandalwood Garden" and covers an area of ??six or seven acres. The streets on both sides are lined with high-rise buildings, busy with traffic, and crowded with people. When the tea garden owner leased this land, he originally planned to build a hotel. However, due to insufficient funds, he first opened an open-air tea garden on the vacant land. The owner was ingenious and planted hundreds of coconut trees, betel nut trees and Indian red sandalwood trees at regular intervals. Over the past few years, the trees have covered the ground with shade. Under the trees, pots of blooming flamingos and bougainvilleas are placed on the roadside. Bright phalaenopsis are wrapped around the trunks, and pots of phalaenopsis are hung on the branches. There are fragrant spider plants, and the ground is covered with green carpet grass. The "neighbor" birds are chirping and singing in the trees. The environment is beautiful, quiet and elegant. There are dozens of tables in the garden. In the early morning, office workers and morning exercisers come here to drink morning tea and have breakfast. In the afternoon and afternoon, after working, people would come here to drink tea and chat, play chess and cards, or recite poems and compose poems. At night, small colorful lights flicker constantly, looking hazy and mysterious. Pairs of lovers hugged each other under the shade of the trees, whispering and confiding to each other. One yuan for a cup of tea, two yuan for two coconuts, three yuan for a cup of coffee and milk, low consumption, enjoy natural "air conditioning", the seats are packed. Business is booming and income is substantial. This is a good place for Wancheng residents to relax.
One evening in March in Yangchun five years ago, thousands of spring swallows suddenly flew to the red sandalwood tea garden, inhabiting the red sandalwood trees, coconut trees, betel nut trees, roofs, and electric wires in the tea garden. When the swallows fly out and back in the morning and evening, it is overwhelming and spectacular. This scene shocked Wanning City, and the streets were deserted. It became a legend for a while. Residents came one after another to watch and enjoy the wonders. Vehicles passing by do not dare to blow their horns, and pedestrians do not dare to make loud noises. Reporters from TV stations and newspapers also came in droves to take photos and videos. This spectacle lasted for nearly a month, and it happened every year thereafter. It has become a "station" for migratory birds returning from spring to autumn to rest and replenish their "supplies". It has also become a happy home for local birds. All year round, local sparrows, mynas, magpies, thrushes and other birds build nests, breed and live in the trees, and the flowers are fragrant and the birds are singing every day. In order not to disturb these little creatures, the owner of the tea garden had to close down his business and give up this piece of green shade and this small world to the birds. The tea garden was renamed "Bird Paradise".
Entering the bird paradise, rockeries have been built where the tea tables were originally placed, and the winding path that the guests used to walk has turned into a gurgling stream. The trickling clear spring flows down from the rockery and merges into the creek. The electric water wheel then brings the water back to the rockery for continuous circulation. Groups of colorful koi carps are in the stream, looking for food and fun. Golden turtles, mountain turtles, and water turtles are strolling leisurely by the stream. The kitchen, which was originally "built with a seven-star stove and a copper kettle to cook three rivers", and the bungalows where the owners and employees live, also have rows of wooden bird's nests installed under the eaves to protect the birds from wind and rain. Although large groups of swallows have continued to fly north, there are still many "left-behind troops" building nests under the eaves to hatch their eggs. Every day, sparrows, magpies, mynas, chickens, partridges, and thrushes fly around in the trees and rockeries, feeding the chicks with insects. Listen to the magpies and orioles singing, watch the birds spread their wings, smell the refreshing fragrance of flowers, and enjoy the refreshing breeze. The hustle and bustle of the busy city disappears here. There are famous calligraphy and paintings hanging on the tree trunks and among the bamboo leaves. For example, Tao Yuanming's "The grass and trees in Mengxia are long, the trees around the house are sparse, and the birds have their support. I also love my cottage." Ouyang Xiu's "Hundreds of chirps and thousands of sounds move at will, and the mountain flowers are red and purple. The trees are high and low. Only then did I know that the lock was calling to the golden cage, Not as good as singing freely in the forest." Su Dongpo's poems about loving birds, loving trees, loving flowers and plants, and loving nature. It is refreshing to be in this scene where the natural landscape and the cultural landscape blend and complement each other. Witness people, birds, bees, butterflies, cicadas, turtles, fish, and frogs enjoying the gifts, shelter, survival, and happiness of nature in the shade of trees, on rockeries and springs, and among flowers and plants. The scene of existence, harmony, intimacy and harmony. I couldn't help but admire in my heart: What a harmonious home, what a bird paradise!
However, what is even more commendable is the love and passion of the owners of Bird Paradise who love birds, trees, nature, and protect the ecology. I recall that in those days, in order to make large-scale steel production, a large number of forests were cut down and firewood was burned to burn blast furnaces. In order to make progress quickly, we blindly destroy forests and create terraced fields, which is not worth the gain. A large number of forests have been destroyed, causing soil erosion, drying up of rivers, desertification of farmland, and ecological imbalance. Human beings are also ruthlessly punished by nature, with frequent natural disasters and heavy costs. In the past era of material scarcity, people either out of ignorance or to satisfy their hunger hunted animals to satisfy their hunger. Even when I was a child, I did stupid things like digging out bird eggs and catching small birds, which makes me feel ashamed when I think about it. But today, with abundant material resources, many precious wild animals are still delicacies at the banquets of dignitaries and wealthy businessmen in some hotels and restaurants. Forests and vegetation have been severely damaged, causing many rare birds and animals and tree species to become extinct. It is really sad!
Fortunately, in the face of nature’s revenge, the Chinese people have woken up and learned from the pain. Protecting nature, protecting ecological balance, and building a harmonious home has become the national consciousness. The government has successively issued various laws, regulations and policies to protect the natural environment, protect wild animals, protect mountains and forests, return farmland to forests, and return grazing land to grassland.
In recent years, protecting the natural environment and protecting ecological balance has become a conscious action for people. Gradually, a gratifying situation has emerged in which humans, wild animals and plants live in harmony and create a harmonious home.
During the conversation with the owner, I very much appreciated the owner’s kind deeds. At the same time, it also showed some helplessness and regret for the economic losses suffered by the owner. The owner Chen Jun said with a smile: "The presence of birds shows that this is a geomantic treasure land, and it is also a kind of fate between me and them. Protecting the environment and protecting living creatures is a virtue and a responsibility. Although the income is less, but I have no regrets." Chen Jun also told me happily that after he gave this small space to the birds, he had rented an open space in the north of the city and started planting trees. Next year, tea garden businesses will open for business amid new greenery. At the same time, the plan to build a hotel here was cancelled, making this green space a permanent paradise for birds.
I secretly wish Chen Jun’s new plan will be realized soon, and hope that more bird paradises will appear in Wancheng.
(Fu Zhongliang)
(Editor: Deputy Editor)