More than 2,000 white cranes stop over at NE China wetland

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As spring comes, more than 2,000 white cranes have been spotted resting and foraging at the Momoge National Nature Reserve in northeast China's Jilin Province recently.

The rare migratory birds are on their way back to Russia's Siberia from Poyang Lake in east China's Jiangxi Province and stop over at a wetland in Zhenlai County of Baicheng City, Jilin Province to replenish their strength.

With the global population less than 4,000, the white crane, or Siberian crane is listed as critically endangered species on the IUCN Red List.

The Siberian white crane. /VCG Photo

In addition to white cranes, large flocks of other kinds of migratory birds have also arrived at the nature reserve to rest, during their migratory journeys.

Boasting an area of 100,000 hectares, the Momoge reserve, the largest wetland in Jilin, is an ideal place for migratory birds to rest before their northward flight.

The Siberian white crane. /VCG Photo

Thanks to local authorities' conservation efforts, the number of white cranes visiting the wetland annually rose from some 500 in 2000 to over 3,800 in 2015.

(Cover image via VCG)

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