Central China lake welcomes more migratory birds

The number of migratory birds wintering at China's second-largest fresh water lake is up nearly 20 percent over last year, a survey has found.

Over 120,000 migratory birds were observed on Dongting Lake in Hunan province between January 11 and 16, Xinhua news agency reported.

With the help of forestry professionals, volunteers and NGOs, the survey was carried out at 15 spots on the lake, according to the Hunan provincial department of forestry.

Spread over the central-lower Yangtze plain, Dongting Lake is an ideal habitat for winter birds, though authorities warned in November that the birds might struggle to find food as water levels had risen due to the worst winter floods in a decade.