Hooded cranes stop over at the Jiutai wetland natural reserve in Changchun, in Jilin province. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

A large number of rare hooded cranes have been spotted at the Jiutai wetland provincial-level natural reserve in Jiutai district in Changchun, capital of Northeast China’s Jilin province, according to local reports.

Local officials said that since mid-March, hooded cranes have been seen coming there. Enthusiasts estimated that so far more than 2,000 cranes have arrived this year, more than in former years.

The hooded crane is a national first-level protected species. Currently, there are fewer than 10,000 hooded cranes in the world. They are listed in the red list of endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the China Red Data Book of Endangered Animals.

Hooded cranes breed in open forest wetlands and are often found in large freshwater wetlands and coastal wetlands during migration. They mainly feed on plant rhizomes and small invertebrates.

Since the establishment of the wetland reserve in 2013, hooded cranes have been found there each spring from mid-March to late April.

With an improved environment, the number of cranes arriving has increased from dozens initially to more than 2,000 now, according to reserve officials.

They said as the weather gets warmer, more hooded cranes will come to the reserve to have a rest and find food.

To protect these migratory birds, the reserve is arranging for staff members to monitor them 24 hours a day.

Hooded cranes forage for food in the Jiutai wetland in Changchun. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Hood cranes take wing over the Jiutai wetland. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]