While patrolling the Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve in Jiangxi province, a ranger was amazed to discover a group of Oriental white storks perched on tree branches near the lake.

"The primary habitat of the Oriental white stork is wetlands, with Poyang Lake serving as its main wintering ground. It is unprecedented to see them perched on trees during winter at Poyang Lake," a patroller of the reserve said. "In my 38 years of patrolling, this is the first time I've witnessed such an occurrence."

The Oriental white stork, a large wading bird often referred to as the "giant panda of birds", is a first-class protected species in China.