From gilded cages and nests on high

However, Yan's proposal received a lukewarm response, with only about 20 of the association's members, of whom there are 100 or so, picking up on the idea.

Many worried about possible repercussions from the pandemic and were in no great mood to do anything at all.

However, as COVID-19 was gradually brought to heel, more members volunteered to join in.

One member, Hao Lijuan, says she did not understand Yan's proposal at the beginning.

"I was like, 'Do they not realize what's happening?'"

In those uncertain times, Hao says, she was too concerned about her family to consider taking part.

But her worries evaporated when she checked through the online group discussion and messages relating to the birds that had been spotted. "My worries kind of disappeared in flash as I looked over the chat content," Hao says.

Influenced by her peers, she then stepped out into her balcony, and away she was again, watching birds.

"It was raining a lot during the stay-at-home period, which sort of added to being depressed, but when I saw two spotted doves spreading their wings and enjoying a baptism of rain on a power pole it was like an epiphany.

"I thought, 'They're enjoying their time no matter what the weather is, so why shouldn't we?'"