In recent days, visitors who came to enjoy the water lilies in the Chenshan Botanical Garden found a bird's nest on a giant water lily pad. It turned out to be a common moorhen’s home, and has quickly become a new eye-catching attraction.
Travelers were excited by this rare phenomenon, as most birds' nests are commonly found in a tree or among reeds. The common moorhen is a cute but timid bird that always flies away when people approach. It is recommended that visitors keep a short distance when observing the bird.
The Chenshan Botanical Garden covers an area of 199.8 hectares, one-fifth of which is water. This well-vegetated area is the moorhens' favorite home, which they inhabit all year round. It is easy to see them swimming in a lake or resting on a floating leaf. Since water lilies were introduced to the park, the birds can often be seen hopping atop the lily pads.
The moorhen, also known as Gallinula chloropus, is a distinctive species with dark plumage, white undertail, yellow legs and a red facial shield. They have a wide range of gargling calls and will emit loud hisses when threatened. They live in marsh environments and well-vegetated lakes, and their nest is built on the ground in dense vegetation.
By Li Xiaonan
