Large group of white cranes stops at Hunan reserve

Donggu Lake, a part of the East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve in Yueyang, Hunan province, welcomed a large group of white cranes recently, as spring weather warms.

More than 100 white cranes — waterfowl under first-class protection in China — flew into the region to stop, perch and forage in the wetlands.

According to researchers monitoring the birds, it has been five years since a group of more than 100 white cranes was last observed in the reserve.

In recent years, the ecological environment of the area has greatly improved and the lake has attracted large flocks of migratory birds, including gray cranes, spotted ducks, bean geese and white spoonbills, to spend the winter.