Bowing their heads and searching for food, these wild bustards wintering in Taihu town of Beijing E-Town are spreading their wings and enjoying themselves.

A great bustard flying through grass in Beijing-E-Town. [Photo/kfqgw.beijing.gov.cn]

The great bustard is a first-class protected wild animal in China. It is an endangered species at the same level as the giant panda and is regarded as an indicator species to measure the quality of the ecological environment. 

This species of bird likes to forage on open farmland. They're very stubborn in their choice of habitat, and spend the winter in the same place almost every year. 

Several great bustards search for food in Beijing E-Town. [Photo/kfqgw.beijing.gov.cn]

According to Qu Xinli, a photography enthusiast, in 2022, the number of great bustards resting in Beijing E-Town increased again, which shows that these "national treasures" are satisfied with the living environment.

Two great bustards walk on the farmland in Beijing E-Town. [Photo/kfqgw.beijing.gov.cn]

In addition to the great bustard, which has been wintering in Beijing E-Town for six consecutive years, the long-eared owl, a second-class national protected animal, has also chosen here as its habitat. 

At the end of every October, a dozen or so long-eared owls fly in from the north, foraging across wastelands and roosting in areas with tall trees. They stay in the area until May of the following year.

"Many waters in Beijing E-Town are rich in water resources, have good water quality and are rich in food. Additionally, the water quality and environment have been continuously improved, providing a good habitat for waterfowl during the migratory season." Qu added.