Migratory birds sour through the sky over Nantong. [Photo provided by Lu Xin to en.nantong.gov.cn]

As of Dec 23, Nantong in Jiangsu province had recorded over 50,000 migratory birds, far higher than in previous years, according to the Nantong Environmental Monitoring Center and Nantong Bird Photography Association.

The coastal wetlands along the Yangtze River in Nantong serve as an important stopover site for birds along the East Asia-Australasia flyway. Winter migratory birds in the city mainly consist of geese, ducks, gulls, sandpipers, herons, and pheasants. Some of these birds briefly rest and replenish their energies in the city before continuing their journey south, while others stay until the following spring.

Migratory birds serve as a "barometer" of a place's natural environment, and wetlands serve as habitats and refueling stations for endangered bird species and migratory birds. In recent years, Nantong, located on the global migratory flyway of East Asia-Australasia, has implemented systematic environmental protection and restoration projects to provide a better home for the nesting, breeding, and migration of migratory birds.

Nantong is home to 522,400 hectares of wetlands, ranking second in the province. The city has established one provincial-level nature reserve, two provincial wetland parks, 69 wetland protection areas, and 11 natural reserves. The number of wildlife species in Nantong has increased from 3,508 in 2020 to 3,983 today, with many rare species transitioning from being rare visitors to regulars.