Nov 23 was the happiest day of last winter for Wang Xiaolong. On that day, he spotted a flock of nearly 400 white cranes in his patrol area near Poyang Lake.

"I was thrilled. It was the largest number of migratory birds I had seen in months," Wang said.

Poyang Lake, located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, is China's largest freshwater lake. It serves as a crucial wintering ground for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, including over 95 percent of the world's white cranes, which flock to the lake from October to March.

Wucheng town, in Yongxiu county, Jiangxi province, is on the eastern side of Poyang Lake and has been given the title "China's migratory bird town" by the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Over the years it has welcomed a large number of rare migratory birds, especially white cranes, and attracts many bird-watchers every winter.

Wang has been a patrol officer at the Wucheng protection and administration station of the Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau for 38 years. Each morning, around 5 am, he rises early, has a simple breakfast, and sets off from the protection station.

Dressed in camouflage clothing and boots, he grabs his binoculars and camera and patrols areas such as Zhonghu Pool, Meixi Creek, and nearby lakes. On busy days, he covers an area of up to 40 kilometers.

"The patrol route is quite long, and I often can't make it back to the canteen for lunch, so I bring simple food like sweet potatoes and steamed buns," he said. He added that the most challenging aspects of his job are the loneliness and navigating the muddy roads after heavy rain.

"Protecting the birds of Poyang Lake is my duty. This work has become a significant part of my life and holds the utmost importance to me. By protecting nature's spirits, I have found my life's purpose."

Wang fondly recalls rescuing a juvenile white crane 20 years ago on a winter's day. He spotted an injured young crane during his patrol and brought it back to the protection station, where he fed it small fish and shrimp and took it to the bird hospital for treatment.

"I remember when we went to the hospital; I walked in front, and the young crane followed me. We entered the hospital together. After about a month, its injury healed, and I decided to release it back into the wild," he said.

"That day left a deep impression on me. The little white crane circled above my head for a long time before flying away. It felt like it recognized me and was reluctant to leave."

Over the decades, Wang has rescued and released over 300 birds and participated in more than 180 projects involving the protection of migratory birds. He has received numerous honors, including being named Jiangxi's most beautiful environmentalist.

"I've already planned that after I retire next year, I will stay here as a volunteer to continue protecting migratory birds," said the 59-year-old.