Thuan Yen Stork Garden

(Baonghean) - Every afternoon, flocks of storks return to Cay Thi lake in Thuan Yen village, Nghia Hoan commune (Tan Ky). For nearly ten years, this 3-hectare area has been home to thousands of storks.

DISCOVER THE STORK GARDEN

Thuan Yen Hamlet is about 17 km from Lat Town, Tan Ky District. We arrived at the commune People's Committee headquarters at noon. The conversation at the roadside tea shop while waiting for office hours with the people of Viet Lam Hamlet made me even more excited. My new friend, the owner of a row of shops selling everything from draft beer, soft drinks, clothes to construction materials, said: Hien Le's stork garden is known to everyone in the commune. Perhaps it is the place with the most storks in several districts in the West of Nghe An. At that time, I thought of a wild and poetic place. The owner of the garden must be a "rich man" with a taste for elegant pleasures.

Pond bridge - nostalgic feature in the stork garden.

The Nghia Hoan commune official poured a cup of tea to invite the guests, and said in a cheerful voice: "Please wait another hour or two. When the afternoon comes, the kites will be full of shrimp and fish, and the storks will return." The official said that Mr. Nguyen Danh Hien and Ms. Truong Thi Le, the owners of the stork garden, are close friends of the people in the neighboring villages. Only then can the storks be kept from encroachment for many years.

We easily found the stork garden just 1 kilometer from the Nghia Hoan Commune People's Committee headquarters. The garden is located in the middle of a field, not far from the Con River. The alluvium of this river created the Cay Thi pond area. Nearby are famous Cua tile kilns. Tiles are the main source of income for Nghia Hoan people to get rich, build beautiful houses, and buy luxury cars. Nghia Hoan is famous throughout Nghe An province for its Cua tile brand.

White storks loomed over the tiled roofs of kilns. Perhaps in a moment they would fly back to their roost at Bau Cay Thi.

According to an elderly man, Thuan Yen hamlet used to have a large fig tree, so it was called Bau Cay Thi. Previously, this place was flooded with mud and reeds. Since 2005, Nguyen Danh Hien's family has bid for this area to raise fish and improve it into a farm. The owner has fenced the area with B40 nets. Embankments and dykes have been gradually built. Until now, the swamp has become a beautiful farm area. Rows of mung trees are cleverly planted on the path leading to the farm. A row of houses is built in the style of a restaurant serving food. Next to it are 2 fish ponds. 2 boys in the hamlet nearby, one is baiting, the other is fishing. Along the path next to the pond and on both sides of the road leading to the livestock area, trees are planted, in straight rows.

Ms. Truong Thi Le, the farm owner, led us to a row of houses overlooking a fairly large lake. Between the lake and the other side is a small forest full of guava trees and reeds. She said that this is the private space of the storks. On sunny days, around 4:30 or 5:00 pm, they gather here and perch densely on the treetops. On rainy days, the storks return half an hour earlier. When the afternoon falls, the garden turns white with thousands of storks.

So we had to wait for more than an hour. During that time, I told my journalist friend that the best way to spend time was still to explore Ms. Le's farm. I searched for a suitable term to name this garden. Calling it VAC farm was not enough because besides the garden, fish pond, chicken and pigeon coop, the flock of storks was the most interesting thing about the farm.

WHITE AT AFTERNOON

Chatting with some fishermen in the village by the bridge leading to the small island in the middle of the lake, I forgot that the afternoon was getting closer. A strange sound suddenly made me remember that I was waiting for the storks to return. The cries of the first storks echoed and I involuntarily looked up at the sky. Hidden behind the low clouds were tiny black dots. At first they were only the size of mosquitoes, then they grew as big as areca nuts. I recognized the flock of storks. They circled lower and lower above our heads.

The fisherman insisted that this scene was all too familiar. Having said that, he put down his fishing rod and looked up at the sky. His face was as excited as ours, the visitors from afar who were watching the flock of storks returning to their nests for the first time.

Storks return to Cay Thi lake.

After a few circles, the first flock of storks boldly landed in the forest on the other side of the lake. This group probably numbered hundreds. Other groups were still circling above. The storks seemed uneasy when they noticed the strangers in the farm. The fisherman named Tan said humorously: “Normally, when the storks return, they land on the tree branches. They mistake the camera lens for a gun barrel.”

After a while, realizing that we and the cameras in our hands could not cause any harm, the flock of storks felt somewhat relieved. At this time, the sunset had fallen on the Thuan Yen mountain village. The forest in the middle of the lake was decorated with a strange white color. I believe that the storks were truly relieved when they found their home.

Looking at the flock of storks in disarray at our presence, Mr. Tan said that just a few years ago, the flock of storks could not rest in peace with poachers who were always on the lookout with hunting guns and rubber band guns. They said that the storks were from the sky and anyone could shoot them. Pitying the storks, Ms. Le's family had to stay up all night in the garden. When they came home from eating, the couple would be there in the garden. When they discovered poachers, they would go to their houses to advise them. Gradually, people understood and no one shot storks in the garden anymore. To "win over" the people, she discussed with her husband about allowing everyone to go fishing in the pond. Anyone in the neighborhood who wanted to eat raw fish or steamed fish could just grab a fishing rod and catch a few. Thanks to this clever method, no one came to shoot storks anymore. At night, Ms. Le could sleep well.

“Does your family just raise storks for that?” – My friend suddenly asked and the owner of the stork garden smiled gently: “Actually, my family has a plan for it.” Ms. Le pointed to the row of houses and said that sometimes there are still groups of tourists coming here to visit the garden. A few months ago, there were some guests who were said to be French people who came to survey the potential for developing eco-tourism. There are more guests from the province and district. Every week there are a few groups. People come here to watch the flock of storks returning in the evening. Some TV channels have also come to make reports.

“People come and go, but no one stays overnight because there is no guest house,” said Ms. Le. The owner of two Cua tile kilns said that in the future, the family is planning to build a small house to welcome guests. According to Ms. Le, only by staying overnight can one fully experience the excitement of the stork garden. At night, the whole pond area is bustling with the sound of storks and fish splashing in the water.

The sun had set. The flock of storks had settled into their shelter. Perhaps they were now somewhat reassured that at least for now, the intruders had not harmed them. The garden was occasionally filled with the sound of “cuckoos”. Ms. Le said this sound would continue until almost midnight.

ORCHIDS