When I was seven, I started birdwatching with my father. I vividly recall a visit to Hengsha Island—flocks of egrets, common sandpipers, and wood sandpipers bustling around. Suddenly, tree sparrows took flight as a pied harrier swooped past. Immersed in nature’s beauty, my father narrated the history of land reclamation and how the Dutch spent three decades restoring wetlands, prompting me to ponder: "What matters more, land or nature?" 

From elementary through middle school,I frequently visited Nanhui Dongtan, observing the reed marshlands gradually overtaken by factories and farmland. Prime birdwatching areas were nearly disappearing. I worried: "If habitats vanish, will nature fall silent?" Realizing that individual efforts alone were limited, I sought to involve more people. In 2020, driven by passion and concern, I established "Birding School," conducting online educational outreach and offline birdwatching activities, empowering young people to involve their families in bird conservation. As of today, 'Birding School,' has published over 70 original posts on Weibo, amassing more than 2.66 million views. 

Joining UWC Changshu in 2023, I eagerly became a member of the Bird Conservation Zhi Xing Club, dedicated to campus wildlife protection. "Birdsong echoes, seeking companionship," we organize birdwatching, research bird-window collisions, and host Bird Conservation Weeks. 

So far, we've documented 105 bird species on campus and advocated for retaining aquatic plants during winter, protecting bird habitats. 

▲Photos taken by members of Bird Conservation Zhi Xing during bird watching on campus (From top to bottom, from left to right: hoopoe, shrike, egret, moorhen,  redstart)   

Members of our club are passionate bird conservationists and eco-advocates. As a newcomer, I joined senior Antonio Sui in campus patrols to study bird collisions. That was my first encounter with this environmental issue. Bird-window collisions occur when birds fail to perceive glass due to transparency or reflections, leading to injury or death.  

Between 2022 and 2024, Antonio guided our daily collision surveys during migratory seasons (late March to early May and mid-September to late October), identifying over 20 birds injured or killed by collisions. 

▲The "bird collision" we found on campus

With guidance from Professor Li Binbin of Duke Kunshan University, wildlife expert Bo Shunqi, and the Shan Shui Conservation Center, we designed a study and collision prevention strategy. The school provided funding for bird-safe decals. In the second half of 2024, we successfully implemented this decal project.

When we finally installed the decals on Building No. 1’s glass facade, we felt immense pride. On UWC Day 2024, my clubmate Zoe Zhang shared, "At first, I was just noticing that birds were hitting the glass on campus—it seemed sad and helpless. But we didn’t just stand by, we decided to do something. It feels incredible to see those stickers up—they don’t just protect birds; they represent the power of change." Although Antonio has since graduated, he remains connected to the project.

Post-installation, we participated in Shan Shui Conservation Center’s autumn collision survey in the Yangtze Delta, observing significant improvements.

Only two bird collision deaths occurred, far fewer than spring’s eight, with zero incidents reported in the decal areas. Professor Li Binbin remarked, "UWC campus can become a haven for migrating birds," greatly encouraging us.

03

Bird Conservation Zhi Xing: A Multifaceted Club

In 2024, we organized two successful Bird Conservation Weeks under multifaceted guidance from Ms. Qiu Dong. She encouraged wider community engagement to raise awareness about bird conservation. 

Collaborating with the SAWA Club, we invited children they supported to create bird-themed dot paintings exhibited on campus. Workshops like "Tree of Life" and ceramic bird creation allowed the entire community to express their love for birds artistically. 

▲The DIY Ceramic Bird Workshop

Professor Li Binbin and Mr. Bo Shunqi delivered lectures on bird conservation topics such as urban biodiversity and wetland ecosystems.

▲Prof.Li Binbin, founder of the "China Anti-bird Collision Action Alliance"

▲Mr. Bo Shunqi delivered a presentation on wetlands and birds（from left to right：Zoe Zhang, Henry Chen, Ms. Qiu Dong, Mr. Bo Shunqi, Richard Gu）

This dynamic club ignited my creativity, inspiring me to design and develop the campus birdwatching website, "Webird," over six months, with my classmate Chen Che creating a dedicated logo. This website records more than 70 species of birds that my classmates and I have observed on campus. When you click on the teaching building, dormitory, playground, or lake in the "Webird," map, you can see the frequency of appearance of various birds, and some locations feature photos we captured. 

Although the website is simple and cannot compare to major bird research platforms like Cornell University’s, it carries a personal touch, reminding us that birds are always around—kingfishers hunting, curlews drifting across the lake, and egrets standing like mysterious figures in white against the autumn wind.

My clubmate Henry Chen noted, "As high school students, we contribute to ecological protection and campus improvement. 

Over three years, we've recorded many new species, including mandarin ducks and common mergansers. We aim to create a bird-friendly environment, attracting more birds to our campus." 

▲Warbler

Zoe also shared with heartfelt emotion, "UWC Changshu is a transit station for migratory birds, a habitat, and more importantly, a place where people care about birds. It was only after I came here that I got to know friends and teachers who watch birds with me and joined the bird protection movement. We make campus records together, take everyone to watch birds, compile illustrations, rescue birds, and occasionally discuss big questions such as 'Can humans and nature get along well?' What makes me happiest is often not how many birds I see, but when friends come to me and say, 'I saw a bird today, and the first thing I thought of was to show it to you, ' and then I tell them what bird it is. In those moments, I realized that appreciation can be shared, and love for nature is truly contagious." 

Birdwatching: A Poetic Journey into Nature 

Every week, club members and birdwatchers poetically connect with nature. On outings to Shajiabang Wetland Park, birdsong weaves a harmonious symphony of life. 

"For me," Henry mused, "birdsong stores memories. Hearing their calls instantly transports me to cool autumn days filled with sweet osmanthus fragrance and warm sunshine." 

"Su Shi loved birdwatching; birds prominently featured in his poetry, enhancing their emotional depth," I once wrote in an assignment titled "2024: Birdwatching with Su Shi," achieving over 10,000 blog views. These views reflect the emotional resonance between the past and the present. 

▲Parrotbill

Birds heal the heart; nature heals the soul; art heals the spirit.

▲The bird species in the mosaic wall are: bulbul, sparrow, pearl-necked dove, egret, spot-billed duck, moorhen, magpie,  swallow, and common kingfisher

The design of the mosaic wall was created by DP1 student Tina Yang. Tina shared, "My main design idea was to incorporate the various birds that inhabit the school while integrating our campus’s unique scenery and architecture—such as the blooming flowers, swaying reeds, clear lake, and the quaint eaves of Yushan Academy—so that these elements interact beautifully with the birds depicted in the mural. Working with the Bird Conservation Zhi Xing club and Ms. Qiu, who is deeply committed to bird protection, I learned a great deal about birds and was moved by the team’s passion for ecological preservation. My greatest reward was seeing the entire community actively participate, allowing more friends to experience the joy of creating art together—something that deeply touched me!" 

Throughout the project, Dandelion Middle School provided comprehensive support to Ms. Qiu. From the methods for applying the film, adjusting the tiles, and selecting materials, to determining the glass thickness, every detail was meticulously guided. Community members from the 11 Houses on campus joined enthusiastically, and everyone worked together to forge closer connections. We received extensive support from the Student Life Office, Experiential Learning Office, Design Technology Department, and the Head of Houses.  

▲In addition to guiding us in creating mosaic walls, 

Ms. Qiu also initiated projects such as "Bird Footprints." 

Ms. Qiu said, "I hope that through such visible and tangible projects—which allow the entire community to participate widely—we can foster mutual learning and collective growth, enabling everyone to appreciate the beauty of both birds and nature while further enhancing environmental awareness. Through these actions, we can transform UWC CSC into not only the most beautiful campus in the country but also a model of ecological diversity." 

As we create the mosaic wall and "Wetland Paradise" together, the birds soaring past will bear witness—this is our love for poetic biodiversity.