Swans spotted on Jingjiang city's Mazhou Island

A delightful pair of tundra swans were recently spotted on Mazhou Island in Jingjiang – a county-level city administered by Taizhou city, in East China's Jiangsu province – marking the first time these birds have been observed in the area.

Known for their preference for good water quality and open water with abundant aquatic plants, the swans were seen foraging in farmland and flying to the lake.

Scientific researchers studied them using high-definition surveillance video footage – revealing their white, black and grey features, longer necks and slightly smaller size compared with common swans.

Two tundra swans are spotted on Mazhou Island, Jingjiang. [Photo/zhjjwx.jsjjw.cn]

The swans are said to have been on Mazhou Island for almost 20 days, marking a stopover during their winter migration. Enthusiasts say the find  confirms the suitability of the island's environment for their survival.

The discovery of the tundra swans is seen as having great significance, as Mazhou Island is an important station along the East Asia-Australasia migratory route, home to tens of thousands of birds.

Jingjiang plans to roll out projects to restore and enhance wetland environments on the island, creating suitable habitats for bird species and improving overall biodiversity.

Additionally, the city aims to establish ecological restoration pilot areas, build forest wildlife habitats and enhance its biodiversity and carbon sequestration capacity.