On the afternoon of 14/5, Nguyen Thien Kiet Anh, 19 years old, from Dan Phuong commune, walked around Ho Guom with a friend and photographed dozens of night herons perched on branches near the water. "This is the first time I have seen so many wild birds flying around Ho Guom at once", Kiet Anh said.

According to Kiet Anh, a population of several hundred birds, including green herons, egrets, and night herons, appeared at Ho Guom in early May. They are active from early morning until late afternoon, primarily nesting in the trees around Ngoc Son Temple and some clusters of trees along the lake.

A flock of wild birds hunting in the Ho Guom area, 5/2026. *Photo: Truong Van Vi*

A representative from the Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter Management Board stated that wild birds have been residing here for the past two years. The board's observations indicate a greater number of birds this year, creating a unique landscape. The birds residing here will be protected by regulations prohibiting hunting, with patrol teams around the lake.

The birds appear accustomed to people, not startled when someone approaches. Often, they perch quietly on branches or perform swift hunting maneuvers, delighting onlookers. The dense foliage on Ngoc Island has become an ideal spot for the birds to rest, preen, and raise their young.

For nearly one week, Le Hien, 74 years old, from Hang Dieu Street, Hoan Kiem Ward, has maintained his routine of exercising, then resting and watching the birds. Having lived in the Old Quarter since childhood, he noted that herons and night herons were never seen in this area before. They only arrived about two years ago. "Last year, the birds only gathered a few individuals around Ngoc Son Temple, but this year they have spread across the entire lake, hunting every morning", he said.

The Le Thai To - Hang Trong intersection area records the highest density of wild birds nesting. However, the birds' presence has resulted in many droppings appearing on the lakeside walkway.

Hanoi residents surprised to see wild birds at Ho Guom. *Photo: Pham Hieu Duy*

Night herons perching on ancient trees in the Ho Guom area. *Photo: Pham Hieu Duy*

Many people stand on The Huc Bridge to get a closer look at the birds. *Photo: Pham Hieu Duy*

Night herons hunting. *Photo: Pham Hieu Duy*

A night heron hunting. *Photo: Pham Hieu Duy*

Thanh Tung, 57 years old, a photographer at Ho Guom for nearly 10 years, said the flock of herons and night herons appeared in summer 2025. Some individuals migrate in winter, while others reproduce in the trees along the lake. According to Tung, the birds gather in large numbers due to hunting bans and abundant food from residents releasing fish for merit.

Nguyen Hoang Hao, an ecological expert from the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute and Secretary of the Vietnam Wild Bird Research and Conservation Association, explained that migration season typically runs from September to April of the following year. Egrets and night herons, specifically, often move between inland ecological zones to find food.

Hao analyzed that wetlands and alluvial plains along the Red River are shrinking or experiencing ecosystem disruption, causing birds to lose their habitat and move into the city center. "Ho Guom has become a suitable living area as natural habitats are impacted", Hao stated.

Despite a stable food source, the expert pointed out that Ho Guom's banks are mostly concrete embankments, lacking sufficient land for birds to land and rest. In the long term, Hao believes it is necessary to establish ecological zones around the city and its vicinity to provide sustainable refuge for birds, and to transition to green agriculture to ensure diverse biodiversity.

Wild birds appear at Ho Guom, afternoon 14/5/2026. *Video: Quynh Nga*

Quynh Nga