A vibrant breeding season is underway in the Horqin National Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. A pair of red-crowned cranes, a national first-class protected species, were seen raising a chick in the wetlands, while a family of whooper swans with five cygnets was recorded nearby. The successful breeding of these protected bird species reflects a healthier ecosystem, supported by ongoing wetland restoration, vegetation conservation and water management efforts.