The excellent natural environment of Liuxiang area in Doumen's Baijiao Town attracts yearly flocks of egrets to nest, spawn, breed, and grow. These snowy "elves" soar freely in gentle spring breeze, forming a poetic and picturesque rural scenery.

Egrets are tall, long-legged wading birds and national second-class protected animals. According to experts, the species is very sensitive to the environment and living conditions and usually known as the "monitor" of local air and water quality. 

Flocks of egrets are seen in a watering hole in Doumen 

Liuxiang, mainly focused on farming and breeding, enjoys an adequate variety of agricultural plants and fish with completed natural ecological chains. The birds usually rest on mountains or trees near the fishponds. A villager noted that egrets can be seen in Liuxiang all year round yet the number in a flock nowadays exceeds 100 from an average of 20 to 30 in the past. 

Though an egret can eat 0.5 to 1 kilogram of fries for one meal, local fish farmers still manage to coexist in harmony with the birds for ecological protection.

Egrets circle around a heart-shaped metasequoia forest in Doumen

Officials of Doumen Branch of Zhuhai Natural Resources Bureau said that egrets are timid and will normally shy away from people. Their occurrence in Doumen is inseparable from the district's efforts in improving the natural environment and upgrading water quality. 

An egret catches a fry from a fishpond [Photos by Lin Baogen / Wechat account: meilidoumen]

On this note, those who want to go birdwatching are suggested to prepare a telescope and wear clothing with natural or earthy colors, avoiding bright colors such as red and yellow. Yelling, feeding, or scaring the egrets is strictly forbidden.