Liao Xiaodong was once a researcher of ornithology before he became a keen bird watcher nine years ago.

It was also only nine years ago that bird-watching, which has a history of more than 100 years in Western countries, was first introduced into China.

Now Liao, a professor at the Guangzhou-based Guangdong Educational Institute, regards bird-watching not only as a hobby, but as a way to increase people's awareness about environmental protection.

"Birds reflect environmental change, and environmental protection could be pushed forward through bird-watching," Liao said.

"Protection of birds needs lots of effort as we need to protect their natural habitats, which in return helps protect the environment," he said in a recent interview with China Daily.

Birds are very sensitive to environmental change, thus their living conditions reflects how good or bad the environment is, Liao said.

He added that bird-watching in China has seen a rapid development over the last nine years.

Bird-watching societies have been set up across the country, and there are also Internet websites that collect information.

For Liao, this data is very important for environmental protection.

"As non-governmental organizations, bird-watching societies have collected much data on endangered bird species, which is helpful for government departments involved in environmental protection," Liao said.

Nigel Birch, deputy head of the UK's Science and Innovation Network, agrees with Liao.

Birch said birdwatchers could collect vital information about hundreds of species that could be used track the development of natural areas.

He said that there are around 1,500 species of birds found in China, yet only 1,000 are regularly recorded.

"There are also gaps in our knowledge of birds. As a result, there is still lots of scope for bird lovers to find out things," Birch said.

He added that environmental change is greatly reflected through bird-watching.

He cited a study of what was once a common British bird, the Willow Warbler, which is not found in China.

"The number of adult Willow Warblers has declined by over 30 per cent since 1983," he said.

"Change in land use may be a factor and there is also climate change," he said.

Both Liao and Birch said that knowledge of birds should be promoted among children to increase people's awareness of environmental protection at an early age.

(China Daily August 15, 2006)