Bird Island

(Local Name: Niao Dao) Bird Island lies in the western part of Koko Nor (Lake Qinghaihu), some 220km/140mi from Xining. The large quantities of fish, crabs and aquatic plants provide excellent food for the numerous birds, making the island something of a bird paradise. Between February and March various species of migrating birds from India, Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Caspian Sea join company with the native birds which live on the lake all the year round. The ten or so species of the latter include waterfowl, waders and sparrows. Hunting has been prohibited on the island for a number of years.