CGTN Nature filming crew spotted some Chinese mergansers in loving pairs in the Heihe section of the Toudao Songhua River, which flows from Changbai Mountain.

As breeding season approaches, the Chinese mergansers, an endangered species under first-class state protection in China, are preparing for the most important time of the year. Every April, the Chinese merganser flies back from its southern wintering spots to breed at the Changbai Mountain, a lush and secluded area with clear waters and abundant food.

There are fewer than 5,000 Chinese mergansers left in the wild globally.

(Cover image via VCG)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)