More than 200 Chinese mergansers, an endangered bird species, have been spotted wintering at the Zhanghe River National Wetland Park in Jingmen City, central China's Hubei Province.

The Chinese merganser has a history of more than 10 million years.

Under first-class state protection in China, it is listed as an endangered species by the IUCN as there are fewer than 1,000 surviving around the world.

Zhanghe River is an important ecological barrier. In recent years, the ecological environment in the area has continued to improve.

"Last winter, more than 100 Chinese mergansers were found living through the winter here. This winter, more than 200 have been observed here. Chinese mergansers inhabit places with good environment," said Dong Yuqing, head of a local bird enthusiasts association.

Recently, folk bird protection organizations in the cities of Jingmen, Xiangyang, Jingzhou and Qianjiang in Hubei Province have formed a Chinese merganser conservation union, the first regional rare bird protection organization in China.

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