As winter looms, the endangered crested ibises of China, which are under protection by the state, are facing another threat to their survival: shortage of food.
Crested ibises, easily distinguished by their medium-size build, and long bill, legs and neck, once frequented Russian, Korean, Japanese and Chinese skies. They were believed to have gone extinct in the 1950s as a result of habitat loss due to natural disasters, war and human activities.
The discovery of seven crested ibises in Yangxian County's Yaojiagou Village, however, led to their reinstatement as an endangered species.
Thanks to conservation efforts, the population of crested ibises in China has grown to over 2,000. Local populations are also found in Henan and Zhejiang Province.
Crested ibises usually hunt loach, small fish and frogs as part of their diet. These creatures are often found in ponds and paddy fields, an important food source for the birds.
As more people migrate to the cities in search of a better life, paddy fields are often left unused. Come winter, they turn into frozen wasteland.
"The crested ibis depends heavily on human farmland. Some young birds may starve in winter," said Zhang Yueming, a senior engineer working at a crested ibis nature reserve in Hanzhong City.
"The villages have moved to counties or cities. Paddy fields covering an area of more than 30 mu (2 hectares) have been left uncultivated," added Zhang Lixue, a 61-year-old local from the village of Yaojiagou. Over the course of almost 30 years, the population of the village has decreased from 40 to only 2.
The shift to modern farming methods has also reduced the area of paddy fields in the village. Water pollution and inbreeding also pose threats to the crested ibis population.