About 200,000 rosy starlings have been attracted to build nests in construction sites since mid-August since the local government begun to enhance the protection measures to guarantee the birds' annual breeding in Yili County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China.

Rosy Starling is under second-class national protection in China. As each bird is able to devour 120-180 locusts every day, their great appetite on locusts makes them the main force of locust killing pollution-free.

In order to guarantee the safe and quiet breeding environment for the birds which usually migrate to west Xinjiang in May, Yining County has set up fences around the grasslands where they rest, built rockfill nests and drinking tanks to attract more starlings to hatch without external interference.

According to the Forestry and Grassland Administration of Yining County, a total of 13 starling reserves have been built since 1999 in Yining County, measures are taken every year to draw more birds to come.   

(All photos via VCG.)

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