It is the season for black-necked cranes to migrate north. In the past two days, researchers from the administration of Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture's Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve captured footage of several groups of black-necked cranes arriving at the Yixiekepati Wetland in the eastern part of the reserve. The sight of these cranes taking flight against the backdrop of towering plateaus was spectacular.

On April 15, 2025, in the Yixiekepati Wetland, black-necked cranes returning from their northern migration strolled through the marshes and meadows. At times, they ambled leisurely across the vast grasslands, lowering their slender necks to forage for grass seeds. Occasionally, they spread their wings to chase one another or stood silently gazing into the distance. Under the bright, clear sky, the elegant figures of the black-necked cranes contrasted beautifully with the endless snow-capped mountains, the boundless desert, and the lush, vibrant grasslands, showcasing the thriving vitality of this highland treasure.

The black-necked crane is the only crane species in the world that inhabits and breeds on plateaus. As a bird species under first-class national protection in China, the Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve serves as one of its northernmost habitats in the country, providing a home for a breeding population of 180 to 220 black-necked cranes. Every year from April to May, these cranes return from their wintering grounds to the reserve to lay eggs, incubate them, and raise their young. Then, from September to October, they migrate back to their wintering grounds, this time with their families in tow.

Situated within the Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve, which is the earliest established plateau ecological reserve in China and even the world, this area is also the first of its kind dedicated to protecting the fragile high-altitude ecosystem. The Yixiekepati Wetland, dotted with lakes and abundant in aquatic plants, provides a habitat not only for black-necked cranes but also for over 160 rare bird species, including bar-headed geese, mallards, ruddy shelducks, and red-billed choughs.

(The Media Convergence Center of Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Reporters: Liu Yushan and Shen Kailong, Correspondent: Shang Peng)