THE cinnamon bittern, with the scientific name Ixobrychus cinnamomeus, is a stunning bird belonging to the heron family. It measures approximately 40 centimeters in length and features pale cinnamon-colored plumage with streaks on the chest, and dark brown hues on the base of its neck.Its striking physical attributes include a long orange beak, yellow eyes, and reddish loresthat perfectly complement its olive-yellow legs. While Shenzhen falls within the natural distribution range of this beautiful bird, regrettably there is currently no resident population in our city, and we must make do with viewing them as sporadic visitors. The cinnamon bittern’s elusive nature and preferred habitat make it quite challenging to spot when they are around. Typically, they inhabit large grassy areas in wetlands and rarely venture into open spaces. Their diet consists mainly of fish or other animal species inhabiting grassy wetlands such as frogs, mollusks, insects and shrimp. The bird’s breeding season is typically tied to the rainy season wherever they reside. They construct their nests over emerging plants that are very close to water bodies. A female lays up to five eggs per clutch, and both parents take turns incubating for about three weeks. Imagine having more individuals of this species as permanent residents in our city; it would be fantastic! Preserving and protecting our city’s natural ecosystems is crucial to encouraging the presence of this and many other species that may one day call our town their home. Let us continue working towards this goal. | 