Rare birds caught on camera in Beijing and Yunnan

Sightings of rare birds were captured on camera in China's capital city of Beijing and the southwestern Yunnan Province, indicating the improving environmental conditions in these areas.

A group of black storks have been found building a nest in a cave on a cliff in Beijing's suburban Yanqing District a few days ago.

According to forestry officials, there are two adult black storks and two cubs living in the nest. All of them are in good physical condition.

The black storks are usually seen singly or in pairs in marshy areas, rivers or inland waters. They have the habit of using old nests.

The breeding season of black storks is from April to July every year. Forestry officials remind visitors to the area not to disturb the normal life of the black stork family.

"For the black storks founded this time, our bureau will strengthen the publicity on animal protection and pay continuous attention to their departure from the nest and their migration. We remind the public to enhance the awareness of bird care and protection, not to disturb the birds' normal life and create a quiet and comfortable living environment for them," said Li Jianliang, head of nature reserve management section under the Yanqing Forestry and Parks Bureau.

In the past few years, Beijing has made efforts to build more suitable habitats for wildlife, protect wildlife resources, maintain biodiversity, expand the green ecological space, improve the quality of ecological resources and develop the forest ecosystem by means of afforestation, ecological forest protection, integrating and optimizing nature reserves and boosting new industries.

In southwest China's Yunnan Province, 12 cute red-footed falcons, a rare bird under national second-class protection, were captured on camera by a photographer in Hongbenghe Basin.

The red-footed falcon is commonly known as "the smallest bird of prey in the world." They always move in flocks and can catch birds similar to their own size.

The Hongbenghe Basin is known to be a tropical monsoon rain forest. The hot and humid climate creates rich plant and animal resources there, providing adequate food source for the red-footed falcons.