A flock of pied avocets fly over a lake in Karamay. [Photo by Dai Xuhu/kelamayi.com.cn]

With the weather growing warmer in Karamay, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, local residents can find more birds flying through its skies and resting on its waters.

Many birds, including great crested grebes, redshanks, mallard ducks, pied avocets, black-winged stilts and ruddy shelducks, choose to call the northwestern city home, often nesting in Karamay’s Gold Dragon Lake, Red Mountain Lake, West Moon Pond and Nine-Kilometer Wetland.

A flock of redshanks forage on the waters of Karamay, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo by Dai Xuhu/kelamayi.com.cn]

The city’s environment has improved thanks to great government efforts over recent years. Environmental projects, such as the Great Greening and the Blue Sky campaign, have helped to reduce the city’s pollution.

The ratio of green urban areas has increased to 43.1 percent, and the current per capita green area is now 11.5 square meters. In 2016, Karamay’s urban area had over 350 days of excellent air quality.

Black-winged stilts rest on the water in Karamay after a long migration home. [Photo by Dai Xuhu/kelamayi.com.cn]

Edited by Zachary Dye