Xu Lianggui, 77, still remembers his days on patrol. "We were always on duty protecting the birds from a shabby cabin, no matter whether it was raining or snowing."

Now as the villagers become more aware of the need to protect the birds, the patrol team has been disbanded, with the cabins remaining as the only witnesses to their efforts.

The chirruping birds have indeed brought good luck and fortune. Now the village has become a popular destination among shutterbugs, with a bird-watching terrace and hostels built with the support of the local government.

"I got up at four o'clock this morning to catch their graceful posture," says Liu Ping, a bird lover. "I hope that, through my lens, more people will see their beauty and take the initiative to protect our environment."

Xu Guosong says: "Guarding the gray herons has become instinctive and is the first lesson we give our children.

"It's our obligation to protect these 'auspicious birds' down the generations."