A Chinese egret is seen at a wetland in Haimen district in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

A Chinese egret was recently seen at a wetland in Haimen district in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, local media reported on May 20.

The Chinese egret, a bird species under first-class national protection, has never before been sighted in the district, and indicates that the district's ecological environment has improved significantly, said Tian Ye, a bird monitoring volunteer.

Endangered species such as cygnets, Ruddy turnstone, Eurasian Curlew and Estern Curlew were also recorded in the district.

Haimen has in recent years been making efforts to conduct biodiversity surveys and assessments that have identified 65 bird species, including one species under first-class national protection, six species under second-class national protection, and eight species listed on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Endangered Species.

Haimen will sustain efforts to conduct bird observatory activities to provide data for biodiversity conservation, said local authorities.