In recent years, the number of migratory birds observed at the Nanwan Lake has consistently risen, demonstrating the remarkable progress that China has made on ecological conservation over the past decade. The lake is in Xuchang City of Henan Province.

A bird watcher, Li Shiwei, was surprised to witness a special-looking duck diving in the water while taking photos in the Nanwan Lake Ecological Wetland. He then did research online and finally confirmed that it was a Baer's Pochard.

Baer's Pochard is a resident bird in North and Central China and listed as a critically endangered species by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and listed as a first-class protected animal in China.

Baer's Pochard mainly live in north China's Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning province. Every year, mid-March, they migrate north from their southern wintering grounds to breed, then head back in mid-October.

The number of Baer's Pochards has been increasing over the past years from less than 1,000, as ecological conservation has been strengthened, is suitable for many kinds of birds to breed that are strict to their living environment.

"The Baer's Pochards have been photographed twice at Nanwan Lake, indicating that the invaluable species perhaps have settled in this place, which demonstrates that the ecology of Nanwan Lake is suitable for them.” Wang Yan, a bird photographer said.

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