Recently, the sight of large flocks of wild birds choosing Crescent LAKE in Phu My Hung their habitat and foraging ground has gradually become familiar, becoming a part of the ecosystem here. Most notably, the increasing appearance of Oriental darters (Anhinga melanogaster), a bird species listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam, serves as a vivid testament to a living environment close to nature in the heart of a modern urban area.
Centering around this interesting story, Phu My Hung Ngay Nay had a conversation with photographer Tran Nguyen Minh Quan, who has spent many years photographing and tracking the life of wild birds in Phu My Hung.
Hello. It is known that in early April 2026, you captured very precious images of Oriental darters at Crescent Lake. Could you share a bit about this moment with the readers of Phu My Hung Journal?
Photographer Minh Quan: I have pursued my passion for photographing wild birds for many years, but I have spent about three years photographing at Crescent Lake since the Oriental darters first appeared here.
During the three years of tracking and staying close to the Oriental darters at Crescent Lake, I went from one surprise to another, and the images I captured this past April were truly rare moments in nature. In the first few years, only 1-2 individual Oriental darters returned to Crescent Lake to forage; even at the peak, there were only about 4 birds. Surprisingly, this year, the number of Oriental darters returning to Crescent Lake creased abruptly; at times, I counted around 40 birds. They soared across the sky over the lake, dived into the water to hunt, and then perched calmly and contentedly on clusters of trees on the island in the middle of the lake to rest.
Fortunately, I was there at that moment and managed to press the shutter to capture images of the flock of Oriental darters flying over the lake. To put it humorously, “if I hadn’t recorded it in time to tell the story, no one would believe it.”
Could you explain further why the appearance of Oriental darters in large numbers at Crescent Lake represents rare moments in nature?
Photographer Minh Quan: It should be reiterated that the Oriental darter is a species listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam, belonging to Group IB – the group under threat of extinction, strictly prohibited from exploitation, hunting, and trading for commercial purposes. Their appearance in such a large flock in nature reserves is already rare, let alone their appearance in the heart of a modern urban area, which is truly surprising.
Furthermore, the Oriental darter is a bird species that is highly sensitive to its environment. They only come to forage and stay in places where they feel genuinely safe. Perhaps the ecosystem at Crescent Lake has fully met those factors, providing both an abundant food source and a peaceful space for them to dive, hunt, or rest.
According to my observations, in previous years, Oriental darters only came to Crescent Lake to forage. Recently, they have begun to stay overnight. This is also a good signal, showing that this “fastidious” bird species has put its trust in Crescent Lake.
Besides the Oriental darter, during your photography process, what other wild bird species have you encountered in the ecosystem of Crescent Lake in particular and Phu My Hung in general?
Photographer Minh Quan: Many, both in terms of quantity and species. The most numerous are black-collared starlings, little egrets, and Chinese pond herons. Black-collared starlings can be found in almost every park in Phu My Hung, living in large flocks. Little egrets and Chinese pond herons fly in abundance over Crescent Lake. Other beautiful and rare bird species that regularly migrate to the Phu My Hung that I have had the opportunity to photograph include the little cormorant, lineated barbet, black drongo, grey heron, Oriental magpie, and Raffles’s malkoha…
What does the biodiversity of wild bird species in Phu My Hung indicate?
Photographer Minh Quan: From my personal perspective, the diversity of the ecosystem in the Phu My Hung, specifically Crescent Lake, is a very positive signal regarding the living environment. There must be a good environment for wild birds, especially the Oriental darter, to come and live. This is not something easily achieved.
To be honest, with the advancement of science and technology, humans can build modern urban areas and beautiful high-rise buildings, but “building” a “home” for wild birds to inhabit has never been an easy task.
Personally, along with other nature lovers, I highly desire Phu My Hung to always maintain and preserve this “green home,” so that this place is not only a good land for humans but also a sanctuary for wild birds.
Thank you for sharing and for the precious photos of wild birds in Phu My Hung.
HOW IS THE ECOSYSTEM OF THE CRESCENT PROTECTED?
To make Crescent Lake a good land for birds and wildlife, Phu My Hung Corporation has invested efforts and deployed multiple plans to maintain and protect the ecosystem and landscape here.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Lưu, Supervisor of the Security Department of Phu My Hung Corporation, stated: “The work of protecting the ecosystem at Crescent Lake is carried out continuously 24/7 with three layers of protection.
The first layer consists of security posts with guards on duty and continuous patrol monitoring.
The second layer is a surveillance camera system covering the entire area of Crescent Lake and the ecological island with 17 cameras, including fixed land and river cameras, and cameras equipped with virtual-fence functions that issue alerts when intruders are detected.
The third layer is the mobile response team on land and river (motorboats) when signs or subjects approaching to fish illegally or trespassing into Crescent Lake are detected. Through patrolling and monitoring activities over the past period, the Phu My Hung security force has repeatedly detected and coordinated with local authorities to handle multiple cases of individuals approaching Crescent Lake to illegally catch wild animals in accordance with the provisions of the Law.”
