Recently, the oriental white stork, a national first-level key protected wild animal, flew to Gongping Lake in Gongping town, Lingchuan county, Guilin city, Guangxi, where it has settled for wintering. This marks the first appearance of the Oriental White Stork in Guilin in over 30 years.

The oriental white stork has distinct feathers and a graceful posture. The lake is also home to other bird species, such as egrets and herons, which add to the lively winter scenery of Gongping Lake.

The oriental white stork is classified as endangered, often referred to as the "giant panda of birds" and the "treasure of Chinese birds." Over the past three months, sightings of the oriental white storks have been documented in several major reservoirs in Guangxi, with 92 storks appearing in Zhongfeng town, Ziyuan county.

This is the first time that the oriental white stork has chosen to winter in the Qingshitan Protection Area, indicating the improvement of the local ecological environment, which now allows these rare animals to select this area for habitation.

Qingshitan Reservoir is the closest and largest original ecological nature reserve to Guilin city and serves as a drinking water source for the city.

The oriental white storks soar over the lake. [Photo/Guilin Daily]