Ninghai Bay in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, is a magnet for wild birds. [Photo by Li Jianglin/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Ninghai Bay in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, is a magnet for wild birds and bird-watchers.

The bay is situated in the middle of the migration route between East Asia and Australia. With a long coastline, it has vast mud flats and wetlands, making it a great stopover area for migratory birds to rest and replenish their energy stores. With the arrival of spring, tens of thousands of migratory birds — including wild ducks, geese, cormorants and storks — flocked to the area.

Wang Junhui, owner of a bed-and-breakfast homestay on the bay's Hengshan Island, was busy as his business picked up recently.

With the arrival of spring, tens of thousands of migratory birds stop for a rest at Ninghai Bay in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Li Jianglin/For chinadaily.com.cn]

"Most customers are bird-watchers and photography lovers who come specially for the birds," said Wang, "Every day, more than 10,000 birds arrive, more than any other year."

An official of Qiangjiao, which is located on the shores of Ninghai Bay, said, "The number of migratory birds in Ninghai Bay has seen a rising trend in recent years. It results from the environmental protection efforts that we've made."

Yu Yin in Ningbo contributed to this story.

A flock of wild ducks fly over Ninghai Bay in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Li Jianglin/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Birds forage for food at Ninghai Bay in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Li Jianglin/For chinadaily.com.cn]