Oriental storks at Naolihe National Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang province. [Photo by Yan Jianbin/China Daily]

During the regular patrol to monitor birds in autumn, rangers in Naolihe National Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang province recorded a gathering of more than 600 Oriental storks, an endangered water bird. They also spotted flocks with 700 to 800 birds in past two autumns in the reserve, which covers more than 160,000 hectares. The reserve has provided a larger and better habitat, attracting more species of birds, including wild goose, stork, egret and crane.