Dongling reservoir and coastal wetlands in Rudong, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, have become a paradise for migratory birds thanks to sustained efforts in wetland conservation and environmental protection.

This autumn, a large number of birds flew into the county to perch and forage in the wetlands and prepare for their southward migration.

Waders make up the bulk of migratory birds in Rudong. They can migrate up to over 10,000 kilometers per year. The coastal areas of Rudong are important foraging places for migratory birds.

According to researchers monitoring the birds, many under national first-class protection, such as the Nordmann's greenshank, have already arrived.

The global population of the Nordmann's greenshank is only about 600 to 1,300, putting it in an endangered state. In 2021, China's protection level of the species was upgraded from national second-class to national first-class.

Researchers monitor the migratory birds in Rudong. [Photo/WeChat account: ntjoy2012]

Nordmann's greenshank, under national first-class protection, is seen in the coastal wetlands of Rudong. [Photo/WeChat account: ntjoy2012]