Originally published in 2020/07/15
Living by the Waters
Their homes are located in the Old Summer Palace, the West Lake, or just some nameless river.
These water birds live by the waters, and their way of life is truly simple and laidback.
A lot of people often confuse Mandarin ducks with other water birds.
Mr. Wang Fang shared some tips on how to recognize different types of water birds.
“If it has a green head, it’s a mallard; If it has a red head, it’s a pochard; If its head is black, its name is moorhen; The ones with green wings are Eurasian teals; What if it has a whole spectrum of colors? Then you can confidently tell people that it’s a mandarin duck!”
“One is willing to die to be with their loved one.”
— Ancient Conception of Chang An
By Lu Zhaoling (Tang Dynasty)
Since mandarin ducks have extraordinary plumages, and often appear in pairs, they are seen as the sign of romance and love.The bodies of male mandarin ducks are covered with beautiful feathers, but do you know what happens to them once males become partnered? They fall out!
Well, they aren’t just balding like your grandpa…Natural selection and evolution are the reasons why their feathers fall out. When male mandarin ducks look for mates, they need shiny feathers to show their potential mates that they’ve got good genes and their offspring may have a good chance at surviving.
While their feathers can help them attract mates, a body full of colorful feathers may also catch the eye of predators. Therefore, once male ducks are done finding mates, they shed to keep themselves safe.
Moreover, male mandarin ducks aren’t just born with beautiful feathers. Their feathers need to contain multiple types of pigments to be colorful. In order to acquire these pigments, Mandarin ducks need to ingest Fagaceae plants, which contain pigments such as carotene (a red pigment). Sometimes, the beauty of the nature isn’t completely the wonder of the Mother Earth but something that needs to be unleashed with commitment and effort.
Living on the Land
Have you ever seen shadowy figures that pass at lightning speed when you walk on the streets? Well, they are the most well-hidden dwellers of the cities.
Some hide in caves, some only come out at night, and all of them are mysterious and unpredictable, like the ones you are going to read about.
#Racoon Dogs
Do you know the Chinese phrase “Racoon dogs of the same lair”? It means things that belong to the same group usually possess the same traits. You might know this expression, but you probably don’t know that racoon dogs have a dominant role in the biological family Canidae.
Although they are relatively small canines with the look of a fox, stubby legs and the lack of agility, their survival skills allow them to thrive in a wide variety of environments, even on trees and in water.
Besides, racoon dogs are very fertile. They can have an average of 9 babies at a time, and their highest record was 15! Besides being fertile, they are also very adaptive, which allow them to survive in the cities.
Just like many other animals, Racoon dogs need to watch out for evil humans who want to profit off their fur. The practice of killing racoon dogs for their fur started a long time ago. A poem in the Classic of Poetry, or Shijing, says: “In January, racoon dogs and foxes are hunted, so that coats can be made from their fur.”
But now these cuties have been listed as Class 3 Protected Species. As more and more people boycotting fur products, racoon dogs are now more protected than ever. Their future depends on our voices and actions.
#Weasles
In Northern China, weasels are known as “Wong Tai Sin”. Many aspects of the Chinese culture incorporate weasels, for example, Weasels are starred in the movie The Weasel Grave, and there’s also a Chinese proverb that says: “Weasels usually don’t mean well when they wish Chickens a happy new year”. Why do people get a sense of mystery from weasels?
Firstly, it’s because they are nocturnal. It’s hard to track them and predict their moves. Secondly, it’s because of their notorious farts. Did you know? Their farts are actually used as protection.Whenever they are in danger, the gland around their anus releases a gas called butyl mercaptan. When it’s inhaled, one might suffer from dizziness and other toxic effects.
I bet it works better than your pepper spray!
In fact, weasels usually don’t live far from us, and they feed on mice and wild rabbits. In China, they are also known as the “three haves” animal. “Three haves” animals are the ones that have environmental benefits, economic value, and research value.
How to Survive?
So why do some animals find it easy to live in the cities while some don’t? According to research conducted by conservation Folks, 6 different factors are involved, they are:
- Adaptability
- Non-native food sources
- Intelligence
- Warmer city environments – “Heat Island effect”
- Agility
- Less competition
As the environment of a city is so drastically different from the environment of a natural setting, animals may only survive if they are extremely adaptive, active and agile. As time progresses, many wild animals are getting used to life in the cities. For example, they watch out for cars when they cross roads, and they avoid crowded places when they move around. The overpopulated, noisy, and chaotic environment of the cities is far from ideal for animals.
“How are we going to survive?”
This is a question that concerns the wildlife, the human race, and every life on Earth. The environment is the foundation of life on Earth, and it has to be protected for our survival and the survival of others. After being out of quarantine, don’t you want to live in a world where you can roam the streets while being accompanied by a choir of birds, the golden sunset, your loved ones, a cup of coffee, and most importantly, the sight of urban animals?
How to Coexsist?
First of all, it’s necessary for us to improve the environment. Air, water, and trees are all somehow related to our well-being, and the well-being of the wildlife. Every animal needs its own space for living. A small open clearing, a winding creek, or a couple trees and shades may be all they need for a home.
Secondly, we need to change our mindsets. Some of us might feel like feeding wild animals is a nice thing to do, But it’s exactly the opposite. It disrupts the food chain and ecological balance, as animals become dependent on the food that’s provided by humans.
Moreover, sometimes such “good deeds” can lead to more conflicts between animals and humans. For example, racoons that often carry rabies may break into your homes, steal your food and valuables. Is that what we really want?
What we really need to do is to get to know our cities. We have to holistically learn its good and ugly. If we maintain ecological balance with patience and courage, we can let biodiversity do its job, and bring out the true beauty of the Earth.
Beauty doesn't need to be created
When it's a given gift.
See the beauty, and be the change.
References
https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1666623444097146984&wfr=spider&for=pc
https://www.sohu.com/a/323154962_120025348
https://conservationfolks.com/can-animals-live-urban-environments-others-cannot/
https://baike.baidu.com/tashuo/browse/content?id=b05f0ad88124b62e064403c8&lemmaId=818868&fromLemmaModule=pcRight
https://focusingonwildlife.com/news/new-york-city-raccoon/
Editor｜张涬溟，菅陆嘉
Formating｜童德宇
Publishing and Reviewing｜卢玥涵