TAIYUAN, March 6 (Xinhua) -- About 12,000 white swans that have migrated to a wetland in north China's Shanxi Province for winter are beginning to return to Siberia as the local temperature rises.
"Every year between late February and early March, the swans will choose to migrate north when the maximum temperature rises to above 10 degrees Celsius," said He Jianxi, a patroller at Pinglu Yellow River Wetland.
As the local temperature rose quickly, more swans were seen practicing taking off, landing and flying in formation at the wetland during the day, according to He.
He has been taken care of the "Siberian guests" for several months.
"I scattered their favorite corn and cabbage on the frozen rivers, and checked if any of them were injured or sick," he said.
Yang Yunge, director of the wildlife conservation station of Pinglu County, said the white swans usually migrate in groups of hundreds or thousands from the end of February, and some swans departing from other parts of China sometimes take a short stay here before moving on.
The wetland covering over 6,000 hectares has a pleasant climate and abundant food, and is one of China's three major winter habitats for white swans.
