A reed parrotbill is seen in the wetlands of Shuangshan Island in Zhangjiagang, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/Official WeChat account: zjgcitynews]

Reed parrotbills, an endangered species that lives in reed beds, have appeared in the wetlands of Shuangshan Island in Zhangjiagang, East China's Jiangsu province, according to local media reports on May 10.

The rare birds have been hailed as the "giant pandas" of birds due to their rarity, and were first spotted in the wetlands of Shuangshan Island in 2016, which is known for its lush vegetation and intact ecosystems. It has long been a popular tourist attraction.

The reed parrotbill is an endangered species that lives in reed beds. [Photo/Official WeChat account: zjgcitynews]

The birds were also observed at other wetlands in the city, which reflects the success of the city's efforts to protect its rivers and lakes.

In recent years, the city has been rolling out an array of measures to protect its environment, including lakes, rivers, mountains, and forests.

Zhangjiagang in East China's Jiangsu province makes progress in environmental protection in 2019. [Photo/Official WeChat account: zjgcitynews]

In 2019, Zhangjiagang launched an ecological restoration and upgrading project to rebuild an ecological corridor on the bank of the Yangtze River.

The city created 144.12 hectares of new forest in 2019, and its air quality improved, with the average density of PM2.5 – fine particulate matter that causes smog – decreased to 38.7 micrograms per cubic meter last year.