A family of three Siberian cranes rests at Nanhu Lake in Yuhang district. [Photo by Feng Xiao/Hangzhou Daily]

A family of three Siberian cranes — two adults and a juvenile — was recently spotted at Nanhu Lake in Yuhang district, bringing new vitality to the winter wetlands.

This nationally protected species is among the world's rarest waterfowls, with fewer than 4,000 remaining globally. It has been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The elegant white cranes have become recurring visitors to Yuhang. Their appearance reflects the district's ongoing wetland restoration efforts, with Nanhu and Beihu lakes having recorded multiple crane stopovers in recent years.

Hangzhou's expanding wetland protection network has turned the city into an important stop along migratory routes. This autumn and winter, other rare species such as the Oriental stork, black-faced spoonbill, and Relict gull have also been sighted across local wetlands.

The Siberian crane Xiaoxue is rescued in Hangzhou. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

The city's long-running commitment to wildlife rescue has further strengthened this trust. In 2021, an exhausted juvenile crane nicknamed Xiaoxue was rescued in Hangzhou, rehabilitated, and later released at Poyang Lake in the neighboring Jiangxi province to resume its migration.

Frequent visits from these ecological inspectors underscore the steady improvement of Hangzhou's wetland habitats. Authorities remind the public to observe migratory birds from a distance and avoid disturbing them, as the city continues to foster harmonious coexistence between people and nature.

A fleet of migratory birds forages at Qingshan Lake in Hangzhou. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]