The second Yunnan Lancang Bird-watching Festival in Southwest China's Yunnan province recorded an impressive 273 bird species, including seven new species for the area, boosting conservation data for the region. This 60-hour bird race, held from November 1st, is part of the "Our Yunnan" project aimed at filling wildlife data gaps and enhancing conservation efforts.

• 273 bird species were identified by 45 bird-watchers, including the elusive spotwinged starling.
• The festival was organized under the auspices of the "Our Yunnan" project, a collaborative effort involving governmental bodies, nongovernment organizations, and corporate sponsors.
• The project, supported by the Lancang county government, Huatai Futures Co, and the Huatai Foundation, also investigates sustainable forest resource management and ecotourism development.