More than 500 migratory birds have just been released to the open skies to mark the beginning of bird protection drive in Dalian, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

According to investigations and statistics conducted by ornithologists, migratory birds flying across Dalian each year account for half of all in Liaoning Province.

Dalian becomes a paradise for wild birds in spring and autumn due to its fitting climate and continually improved environment.

About one million such birds, including state-protected red-crowned cranes and swans, yearly come to Dalian's Laotieshan Natural Protection Zone.

The birds have risen in number as it becomes popular among local residents to protect them and also due to climate and environmental factors, according to the ornithologists.

In order to protect birds living in this area, the residents have organized several teams to keep watch by turns. Fowling and selling birds have seen their final days in Dalian.

From the beginning of 2002, more than 190 rare birds were delivered to the Dalian Forest Zoo. Some of them have been released to the wild while others still live in the zoo.

(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2003)