Spectacular bird migration peaks at Jilin's Momoge Wetland
|Migratory birds take flight at sunset. [Photo by Pan Shengyu/For gojilin.gov.cn]
The Momoge Wetland in Zhenlai county, located in Northeast China's Jilin province, reached the peak of its migratory bird season in October – welcoming over 7,000 rare cranes, including white, hooded, Siberian and red-crowned cranes.
Known as China's "Crane Homeland", the wetland serves as a vital migratory stop, hosting more than 100,000 birds annually.
To safeguard the migratory visitors, Zhenlai county, the Momoge National Nature Reserve Administration and local volunteers have acted.
They've implemented grid-based management, patrolling, environmental education, wildlife rescue and waste clean-ups to maintain a pristine sanctuary for the birds.
Migratory birds settle at Momoge Wetland in Jilin. [Photo by Pan Shengyu/For gojilin.gov.cn]
The wetland offers a remarkable spectacle: Whooper swans and spoonbills glide across lakes, while geese, ducks and plovers soar in flocks. Large white egrets gather to fish along the Erlongtao River, creating a lively scene of biodiversity.
The migration has drawn tourists, photographers and ecologists nationwide. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Forestry and Jilin University have arrived to study the area's ecosystem and CCTV aired live reports on the spectacle.
This peak migration season highlights nature's beauty and the efforts made for a harmonious human-environment coexistence.
Migratory birds gather in great numbers at Momoge Wetland. [Photo by Pan Shengyu/For gojilin.gov.cn]