Two pheasant-tailed jacanas are seen in the Xixi Wetland in Hangzhou. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Five pheasant-tailed jacanas — the pond-dwelling birds nicknamed "water phoenixes" for their graceful form and long tails — were spotted on July 24 nesting and hatching their chicks.

They were in the Lotus Beach area of the Xixi National Wetland Park in Hangzhou — capital of East China's Zhejiang province.

The rare summer migratory bird, a nationally protected species in China, first appeared in the park last year. This year, one female and four males, have established four nests, with two broods already hatched.

The sight of fluffy chicks exploring lotus leaves under their father's care — jacana males raise the young — has thrilled birdwatchers. Photographer Cheng Guolong captured the moment, calling it a highlight of his 18-year birding career.

Thanks to its ongoing ecological restoration, Xixi Wetland has become a haven for water birds. Since 2022, habitat improvements have attracted jacanas for two years in a row, with nest numbers quadrupling this summer — an encouraging sign of Hangzhou's growing biodiversity.

The sight of a newly hatched pheasant-tailed jacana at Xixi Wetland is a thrill for birdwatchers. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]