NANCHANG - A huge number of migratory birds are flying north to breed after wintering at Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, in East China's Jiangxi province.

According to the Administration of Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve, about 500,000 birds, including white cranes, white-naped cranes, grey cranes and white ospreys, spent their winter and early springtime at the lake.

Poyang Lake is an important wintering area for waterbirds in Asia. From October to March, more than 95 percent of white cranes, 80 percent of oriental white ospreys and 70 percent of white-naped cranes winter at the lake.

Authorities with all the reserves along Poyang Lake are closely monitoring the migratory birds to guarantee their safety.