The first bird airport in the world in China

A wetland reserve in China will become a stop for many migratory birds on the same flight path in the world.

Australian-based landscape architecture firm McGregor Coxall proposed a 61-hectare Tianjin Bird Sanctuary project in an old landfill, making it the world's first "airport" for for birds. If all goes according to plan, construction of the sanctuary will begin later this year and is expected to be completed in 2018, according to Mother Nature Network.

Tianjin Bird Sanctuary, China. (Photo: McGregor Coxall).

Of course this is not the actual airport but a wetland specifically designed to accommodate hundreds, even thousands of migratory birds, landing and flying daily, along the East Asia - Australia route. This is one of the nine major flight routes of global migratory birds, passing 22 different countries such as China, Japan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, Russia and Alaska, USA.

The buffer zone of the 198,000m2 protected area is a forest that limits the encroachment of urban development. The reserve consists of three different habitats including marshes with many reeds, islands in the middle of the lake and shallow rapids.

More than 50 migratory bird species, some at risk of extinction, can stop at the heavily protected Tianjin Bird Sanctuary, and be provided with enough food before continuing on the long journey.

"The bird airport project is an important conservation area for migratory birds at risk of extinction. It also serves as a green lung for Tianjin City," said Adrian. McGregor, McGregor Coxall representative, said.