A flock of cranes paid their annual visit to the Momoge National Nature Reserve in western Jilin province a few days ago, according to reserve staff members making a field trip.

Flock of cranes circling over Momoge National Reserve, Jilin province, this March. [Photo /chinajilin.com.cn]

The cranes normally spend their winter in the warmer area of Poyang Lake, in Jiangxi province, China's largest freshwater lake, then return to Momoge in March during which staff members make their daily rounds of the area to make sure the migratory birds are amply protected.

The reserve has seen a distinct increase in the number of wildlife over the years and, in 2012, had 3,809 white cranes, or about 90 percent of the total for that species around the world.