National protected egrets signal healthy environment in Hunan

A flock of egrets has recently been spotted dancing among trees and soaring over the summer sky in a village in Hongjiang, Central China's Hunan province.

In Xiashan village, the birds have been observed flying above the treetops and gathering twigs for nesting.

A national second-class protected species in China, egrets are highly sensitive to air and water quality. Their presence is widely considered a positive indicator of a healthy environment.