Where are the Birds?
As we are all keen birders we can't help but notice the lack of birds, and other life. Whereas at home when you walk through fields, near water, or in wooded areas, there are lots of birds and sounds, signs of animals - footprints, droppings, etc. 

We did find a lot of waterfowl and waders in the more remote lakes and ponds! But still few "backyard" birds

In the parts of China we have visited there is very little. Even the ubiquitous pigeons and sparrows in cities are almost devoid. Is this a result of the vast efforts 30-40 years ago to wipe out birds because they ate crops valuable to humans, and following that the great famines that occurred with poorly managed agricultural programs, forcing people to eat whatever they could get their hands on? Truly a sad period of China's history. I remember hiking with an Italian friend years ago who was so impressed with the variety and abundance of wildlife in the U.S. because in his home country so much had been destroyed and consumed for food during and after WWII.