Lotus garden in Jinshan (A little Siberian Crane with old man farmer Mr. Huang)

Occasionally can see lotus in the pond near by home or in the park.  Seeing lotus in Jinshan is really different from what you usually see. After I visited with my mom, I saw the lotus flowers are very big and petals are luxuriant there.  The pink petals also have a pinkish gradient color,  as beatiful as Peonys are growing in a pond. Their name is  Peony Lotus. In addition to veiwing flowers and  eating lotus sseds, I heard about a touching story there after I visited the Jinshan Lotus Garden.  On 2014/12/23 , Mr. Huang was plowing the filds, he saw  neighbors watched something and disscused in front of it. Mr. Huang was curiously to see, just a little  white crane foraging in the field. Next morning when Mr. Hauang was farming, the little white crane he saw yesterday moved to closer to him. Mr. Huang called it "Baihe"( White Crane) to start a fate and friendship. The interaction between the white crane and the old man Mr. Huang getting deeper day by day. Mr. Huang planted acrece of lotus fild for small white crane love and enjoy to eat. 

At the gate of Lotus Gardent, there are some introtroductions to the lotus field and the little white crane. I chatted with an old man that I met  in the lotus gardent. The old man was caughting  Tai shrimps in the lotus field. He told me Tai shrimps often nibbling and eat lotus bud to  harmful for lotus feilds and Tai shrimps are a lot and grow more quickly than lotus. Most of Tai Shrimps come from artificial farming and fishing field. Some people throwed Tai Srimps into the lotus fields after they fishing to environmental damage lotus fields. The old man told me the Tai Shrimps he caught will be thrown away. The shells of shrimps  are thick and no meat, not delicious. Then, I ask the old man, where did the white crane go? He told me the crane flied away 3 times. The first time, it was found at Shongshan Railway Station and was sent back from animal care workers. The second time, it flied away with  two Original white stork, then flied back Qingshui Wetland for a few days seems to say goodbye to the old man Mr. Huang.  After tow or three days later was the last time, the white crame flied away with other Siberian Crame and didn't back anymore.  

              

                                                                               

                                      

 Little Whie Crane

White Crane is a kind of migrotary bird are divided into two major ethnic groups, east and west. Mainly live in Sakha Republic area. In winter, they will fly to Poyang Lack in Jiangxi Province, Mainland China to avoid winter cold. After the completion the Tree Gorges Dam, The habitat of the white crae disappeard. The white crane is listed as a cirtically endangered species by the International Union Natural Treasures. When the little crane is about to fly to mainland China for the winter, the first stop is the Qingshui Wetland in North of Taiwan. Many migratory brids fly the same way for avoid winter cold. The animal care worker speculated that the  little cane didn't keep up with companion when passed through Taiwan. Then there be a story of the old man Mr. Huang with little white crane. Since this story start, The Animal Protetion Association notce that Jinshan Qingshui is one of stops for migratory brids from the north to fly south. Before the little white crane was found to stay there, farmers in Jinshan almost sprayed pesticides. The Animal Protection Association concern and hope farmers can help to subsidize farmers to increase their income. Actually, farmers didn't believe the association and thought the association want to cheat their land which farmer's only proerty.  Fortuantely, the farmer Mr.Huang and the landlord Mr.Guo are local leaders, so started with a small lotus garden, thanks them a lot. Apple Snails are harmful to crops. It just so happens that apple snails are also the favorite food of little white crane. Mr. Huang and landlord Mr. Guo cooperated the plan to dig ditches diver   water by themselves. There are places for fishes ,shrimps and crabs to grow. the little crane have food to eat and crops grow naturally. The Animal Protection Association gradully gain trust with evrey  farmers in Jinshan. Then, they cooperated each other, so that farmers income increased. Human living habits are the key to changing all land changes and protecting envinoment. With the gradual formation of the system,coupled with the human touch of Taiwanese willingness to cooperate, environmental protection has become a spontaneous habit.

The touching story of little white crane with the farmer Mr. Huang completely made into a documentary: Heavenly Messenger (English subtitles)

      

Thanks to residents and farmers for protecing the enviroment, so that rare birds can grow and they are not afraid of people

 

  

Info from:

Taipei Times: Rare Siberian crane spotted in Taipei not new to Taiwan

The Star: This endangered crane and a farmer form an unlikely partnership

 

Lotus

Lotus and water lily  look similar but they are not the same.  In terms of appereance, the lotus leaf stem will make the leaf stand out from water, and the water lily leaves are round, lying flat and floating on the water surface.

The Peony Lotus of Jinshan comes frome Thailand.  It is used as a ritual for Buddha in Thailand, so another name is Bodhisattva Lotus. Peony lotus seeds are edible. Lotus petals and lotus can be boild into lotus tea with rock sugar to cool down, refreshing and quenching thirst. The management  park staff told me that can be add some gojiberries to make it more sweet and delicious. In summer day, you can drink one bottle of lotus tea to quench your thirst.

 

 

摘錄參考自職媒聯合報 新北／金山牡丹蓮盛綻 順遊萬里龜吼漁港

 

 

 

 

       

 

       

 

 

 

 

    

 

     

How to take bus/ Bus Info

To take bus No. 862 or No. 863 from Taimsui MRT station. Every 10 munites on avreyge for one bus.  About 1 hr. and 40 minutes, get off at the stop gate of Lane 41,Qingshui Road. After get off the bus, walk to the Huang qing bridge way, then go straight around 6  minutes will arrive the Lotus Gardent.