By Wu Fei, Peng Mingsheng, Liu Luming, Zhao Yumeng, Kong Dejun, Wang Kai, Dong Feng, Robert W. Murphy, and Yang Xiaojun

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This article describes a ‘bird-basin’ hunting, a traditional hunting practice of the Yao people, an ethnic minority in Guangxi, China. The six-weeks’ hunting practice was conducted only during the migratory season and mainly captured small birds. Compared to shifting cultivation, the traditional hunting practice maintains local bird diversity, protects old-growth vegetation, and preserves traditional culture. Although the Chinese government has now prohibited ‘bird-basin’ hunting, the bird-basin hunting still provides new perspectives and thoughts on biodiversity conservation.