Conflict to coexistence

In Zhangye, up to a quarter of a million birds now stop over in the wetlands annually, including the black stork, a species with extremely strict habitat requirements. According to data from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, a record 675 black storks were sighted in the wetlands in September 2024, followed by 455 in 2025.

In Jiuquan's Yanchiwan Wetland, also in Gansu, populations of rare species such as black-necked cranes continue to grow.

At the Hequ Horse Farm Wetland in Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, dozens of brown-headed gulls, a nationally protected species, have been observed for the first time in recent years.

Across Gansu, bird-related outages have declined while biodiversity indicators improve steadily.

State Grid said that transmission towers still carry electricity across vast distances, but increasingly, they also function as ecological infrastructure, supporting migration, enabling monitoring and connecting fragmented conservation zones.

Contact the writers at huyumeng@chinadaily.com.cn