Source: Jilin Provincial Forestry and Grassland Bureau

Chinese mergansers in the eastern mountains of Jilin province

White cranes flock to the Momoge Wetland, Jilin province 

Steller's sea eagles in the Jingxin Wetland

Great crested grebes in the Boluo Lake National Nature Reserve

Jilin province, with unique geographical advantages and abundant wetland resources, is located in the East Asia-Australia migration route for wild birds. It is an important migration and breeding place for endangered bird species such as white crane, red-crowned crane, oriental white stork and Chinese merganser. The bird migration route in the province is mainly divided into east and west lines. The east line starts from the Tumen River in Hunchun to Siberia, involving Jilin city, Jiaohe city, Ji'an city and other counties and cities in the east part of the province. The west line starts from the West Liaohe River to Siberia, involving Taonan city, Tongyu county, Zhenlai county, Changchun city, Nong'an county and other counties and cities in the west. Xianghai, Momoge and Jingxin wetlands are important stopover areas for migratory waterfowls including white cranes, oriental white storks and red-crowned cranes. The Changbai Mountains area is a stopover and breeding area for Chinese mergansers.

To date, the province has recorded 385 species of birds, including 27 species under first-class national protection and 74 species under second-class national protection. In 2022, more than 600 Chinese mergansers were found in the province, an increase of nearly 300 over 2018. The average number of white cranes stopping for a rest in the province every spring and autumn is more than 2,000, accounting for more than half of the world's current population.

The province has been attaching great importance to the protection of migratory birds, thoroughly implementing the overall plan of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration for the protection of migratory birds, taking a series of effective protection measures, and achieving remarkable results in the protection of migratory birds.