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Two water pheasants as photographed by a bird photography enthusiast in the lotus pond of Nanbei Lake in Haiyan county, Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: zhongguohaiyan]

Two water pheasants, which are under national second-level protection, were recently photographed by a bird photography enthusiast in the lotus pond of Nanbei Lake in Haiyan county, Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province.

According to Gu Yueliang, the photographer, these two birds have been staying in this lotus pond since July 9. "I have been bird watching for five years and this is the first time I have seen them at Nanbei Lake," Gu said.

Water pheasants are mainly distributed in southern China. Because of their slender claws, they can walk lightly on floating leaves of water lilies, lotus flowers, water chestnuts, and water caltrops. They are known for their graceful posture and beautiful feathers and are called "fairies on the water" and "water phoenixes".

Currently, the distribution range of water pheasants in China is gradually shrinking, and the population is declining. In 2021, it was listed as a second-level protected species in the National List of Wild Animals under State Protection.

It is understood that the two water pheasants discovered this time are in the breeding period and are expected to stay at Nanbei Lake until September when the breeding period ends.

The arrival of water pheasants reflects the good wetland ecological environment of Nanbei Lake.

In addition, Nanbei Lake is an important station on the East Asia-Australia migratory bird migration route. It is one of the areas most favored by migratory birds along the Zhejiang coast.

Every year, 162 species of 150,000 sub-Eurasian birds stop here for transit. There are 36 national second-level or above protected birds in China here. It is one of China's best places to watch migratory birds.