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A large flock of wild ducks shelters at the Dafengshan mine pit lake in Haiyan county, Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: zhongguohaiyan]

A large flock of wild ducks has recently arrived at the Dafengshan mine pit lake in Haiyan county, Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, creating a magnificent sight.

"They come every winter. They are everywhere on the water, day and night," stated Jiang Qibing, a security guard at a nearby factory. He added that the wild ducks enjoy the fresh air and the improved environment at the lake.

While most of the birds are mallards, there are also green-winged teals, spot-billed ducks, and possibly some rare species, such as falcated teals and gadwalls. Several of these species are listed as nationally-protected animals.

Haiyan county has always been a habitat for migratory birds, but such a large-scale gathering of wild ducks is uncommon. The ducks are expected to stay through April before continuing northward.

The ducks have stopped in Haiyan due to the fact that Zhejiang is located along two important migratory routes of birds, from Southeast Asia to Russia and from Australia to Russia. Haiyan has a number of lakes that are ideal for waterfowl.

The Dafengshan mine pit lake was formed naturally after the mine closed in 2018. It is under the protection of three villages, and the lake is rich in algae and fish. The environment of Dafengshan has also attracted other wild animals, such as egrets, herons, and night herons.