A crested ibis is spotted at the Xixi Wetland in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo by Zhang Zhibing/hangzhou.com.cn]

The 10 crested ibis returning from Deqing county to the wild in Xixi Wetland in East China's Zhejiang province since last November have reported successfully adapted.

The birds, which are observed by two professionals every day, were said to be in generally good condition, with neat and glossy features, bigger and stronger figures, and a good mental state.

They forage for food and rest during the day and choose trees to perch in at night. They have also made new friends with local egrets. Even more noteworthy is that a male and female crested ibis have started mating rituals, with the male grabbing branches to woo the female and the couple preening and kissing each other.

As the wetland has opened part of its region to visitors, tourists are being directed to keep their distance from the birds as they are currently in a critical breeding period.

The crested ibis is an endangered bird known as the "oriental gem" and has an average life span of 20 to 30 years. Though once thought to be extinct, the bird has been witnessing steady population growth in China, rebounding from less than 10 when it was spotted in 1981 to more than 7,000 as of May 2021.