The black-necked cranes soar through the sky. [Photo/IC]

In the depths of winter, a black-necked crane national nature reserve in Lhundrub county, Lhasa, Xizang autonomous region, welcomes large flocks of migratory black-necked cranes. Officially designated as Lhasa's city bird in June 2025, the black-necked crane has become a new ecological and cultural symbol of the plateau. 

The black-necked crane is the only one of the world's 15 crane species that inhabits high altitudes between 2,500 and 5,000 meters. It is regarded as an auspicious symbol in Tibetan culture. Thanks to its unique wetlands and farmland resources, Lhundrub county has become a core habitat for the cranes. Over the past three years, the local wintering population has remained stable at 1,600 to 2,300 individuals, accounting for nearly 60 percent of Lhasa's total wintering cranes. 

The nature reserve was first established in 1993 and spans 1,562.57 square kilometers. The Lhundrub section covers five townships and one town, containing 14.3 square kilometers of wetlands and 80.8 square kilometers of farmland, achieving a balance between ecological conservation and local livelihoods.

Lhundrub county has built a solid foundation for crane protection through institutional, resource, and team development. The county has set up 10 feeding sites in areas where the cranes gather, providing over 20,000 kilograms of food over the past three years, with special funds allocated annually for rescue efforts.

A professional protection team of 1,634 members has been established, including nine full-time rangers who receive regular training. Through a patrol mechanism, the reserve has achieved comprehensive monitoring coverage. To date, more than 100 black-necked cranes have been rescued.