Some 400 swans have been found swimming in Yeya Lake (or Wild Duck Lake) in Yanqing County, in the north suburbs of Beijing this spring.

The lake, covering 2,000 hectares of water area and 3,300 hectares of wetland and grassland, has recently become a protection zone for birds. It is a perfect habitat for birds, zoologists say.

A large number of white swans first flew to the lake in 1996, and then they gathered in the lake every spring. This year witnesses the most swans, according to observers.

Since 1997, many trees and grass have been planted around the lake to improve the environment and attract more birds.

In addition to swans, more than 150 species of birds including geese, cormorants, wild ducks and black cranes can been found at the lake. The number of wild ducks in spring has increased to over 10,000.

(Xinhua 03/31/2001)