At Huanzidong National Wetland Park in Shenyang, close to 10,000 protected ducks — including Baikal teal and mallards — splash in the water or wheel through the sky, forming shifting “waves of birds” that mesmerise visitors.

The wetland covers about 2,050 hectares and teems with insects, fish, shrimp, and aquatic plants, providing rich food for the migrants. Each autumn through early winter, the lush grasses and ponds turn the park into a vital refuelling stop.

Migratory flocks stay here anywhere from a few days to almost a month, feeding and resting before continuing their long journey to southern wintering grounds. The vivid, moving flocks offer a striking reminder of nature’s rhythms and the wetland’s vital role in supporting birdlife during migration.