The amount of common terns in the Nanhaizi Wetland in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has grown up significantly this month as hundreds of chicks have been hatched after a 20-day nestling period.

The newborns cluster around their mothers, chirping in the muddy puddles surrounded by the luscious green reeds brought by the rain earlier in the month. According to Chen Xuegu, the director of the wetland's bird conservation center, these chicks will be able to fly in about 50 days.

The mother well protects them; only the father bird is allowed to get close to the chicks. If other birds try to approach, the mother will peck them and drive them away. "The baby birds look strong, indicating that their parents are nutrition-rich and food is adequate, "said Chen.

The common tern is a kind of seabird in the family Laridae who has a strong migratory ability. After the breeding season, the birds will winter south of their temperate and subarctic Northern Hemisphere breeding ranges.

Chen has found a high incubation rate by the birds. Each of more than 200 common tern nests in the wetland now has around three chicks.

Apart from the common tern, other species as gadwalls, Eurasian coots, great crested grebes and cormorants also nest in the wetland.

(Cover: VCG)

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