HOHHOT, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Flocks of migratory birds such as swan geese and ruddy shelduck have come to the grasslands of Uiad, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, to spend the winter.

Harbar, a herdsman in Uiad Middle Banner, was preparing corn to feed the migratory birds. "Sometimes we can see over 10,000 swan geese wintering here. They come in November every year and leave the following April or May," said Harbar, who added that he only saw two swan geese in 2009.

The ecological environment of the Uiad grassland has improved in recent years due to ecological restoration projects such as seasonal and rotational grazing.

As more and more migratory birds arrive, the government has set up bird protection stations and designated more than 200 hectares of protected areas in Uiad Front Banner.

"We have taken multiple measures to protect the wintering birds, including raising the awareness of local herdsmen and cracking down on poaching," said Wang Liqiang, a forest police officer. Enditem