From September to February each year, Dazhong Mountain in Chuxiong, Yunnan is home to more than 50,000,000 migratory birds (候鸟). People used to call the mountain Daqueshan, which means bird-hunting mountain.
The villagers used to hunt birds on the mountain. Then one year, they couldn't hear birds singing. People started to worry if migratory birds would return again. In 1984, the Hongtupo Forest Police Station was set up. The officers worked on the mountain, trying to find migratory birds and stop people from hunting them. The job was really difficult. They might lose their way or meet dangerous animals.
The officers also tried to tell villagers the importance of protecting birds and other wild animals. They visited the villagers door to door and helped them with farm work. They even organized activities in schools to get their messages across to children. Now, even children know that birds are to be loved.
The mountain is greener, the water is clearer, and more and more animals come to live here. It has become a bird-protecting mountain. Many people have opened bed-and-breakfasts (民宿) for birdwatchers.
"The village has changed a lot, and we don't hunt birds anymore," people say. Since people have stopped hunting, the police station now mainly works to save injured (受伤的) wildlife.
