As birds start to migrate in early autumn, Meng Derong, a teacher of biology at the normal college in Cangzhou, north China's Hebei province, starts to take action too, treating sick or injured birds trying to make their migration.

Given the seaside city of Cangzhou is an important transfer spot for birds migrating northward, Meng has treated 17 birds in the past month, including swans, upland buzzards and wild ducks, at his voluntary wildlife rescue center. When these birds recover, they will be released to re-embark on their migratory route.

Meng Derong and other volunteers bind up the wounds of an injured wild duck in Cangzhou, north China's Hebei province, on Oct 23, 2016. [Photo/VCG]