As spring warmth sweeps across China, two remarkable wetlands are witnessing nature's generosity, with thousands of migratory birds flocking to the skies in synchronized flight, and filling the air with their calls.
At the Hongjiannao Lake, China's largest desert freshwater lake located on the boundaries between the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Shaanxi Province, the first wave of northward migratory birds has arrived at the oasis nestled on the southern edge of the Mu Us Desert.
Swan geese, graylag geese, common coots, red-breasted mergansers, mallard ducks, and grey herons are among the species gradually making their appearance.
Flocks of migratory birds are seen gliding gracefully across the shimmering water surface, with their calls echoing through the crisp air, transforming the once-silent wetland into a bustling avian sanctuary.
Meanwhile, a breathtaking phenomenon known as "bird waves" recently unfolded at the Wolong Lake in Kangping County of Shenyang City in northeast China's Liaoning Province.
Tens of thousands of migratory birds are clustering in the sky above the lake, swirling and diving in seamless formations that ripple like waves across the horizon.
The spectacular display attracts birdwatchers from across the region, who gather with cameras in hand to capture the ephemeral beauty of spring migration.
The Wolong Lake sits along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, one of the world's major migratory bird routes. From mid-March to late April, the lake experiences the peak of spring migration, as birds journey from their wintering grounds to breeding habitats further north.
Spring migration brings avian spectacle to China's lakes
