(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

Min Haohuan, an 82-year-old villager from Jiaze Town in Wujin District of Changzhou City, is known as "Uncle Bird" for his dedication to bird protection while operating a tree nursery.

In the early 1970s, Min began experimenting with growing trees and plants. The oldest nursery in Jiaze, which was expanded by land leasing from the fellow villagers, now covers an area of 40 mu (about 2.7 hectares) and features more than 170 varieties of plants.

Surrounded by water on three sides and lush with greenery, the nursery has become a haven for migratory birds. Starting in the spring of 1988, Min noticed the arrival of egrets, white storks and black storks, with numbers exceeding 1,000 by the early 1990s. The site has also seen a rise in resident birds, such as owls, eastern cattle egrets and Egretta eulophotes, which are under national wildlife protection.

Despite the challenges, including the long stay of birds nearly up to 10 months, and the acidic and plant-corrosive nature of bird droppings, Min is committed to creating a bird sanctuary. He also supplies small fish and earthworms to increase the survival rate of baby birds, and has kept more than 50 dogs to deter poachers. Additionally, he has established a bird rescue station.

Over the past 30 years, the nursery has evolved into a bird-raising base, hosting over 100,000 birds in over 45 species. This transformation has turned the venue into a unique bird-watching destination and attracted more and more eco-travelers.

“There must be some special connection between me and the birds, so I want to take good care of them and guard this sanctuary,” Min said.