Being very fastidious about the living environment, birds in the family Ardeidae are often considered indicators of a highly habitable environment. Zhanjiang, where mangroves stretch along the coastline, is an ideal home for them.

Egrets settling on mangrove branches, Zhanjiang (Photo: Lan Weiqiang)

Egrets flying over mangroves, Zhanjiang (Photo: Lan Weiqiang)

Group of egrets in a bay near the city, Zhanjiang(Photo: Xiao Zili)

A beautiful cattle egret standing among the mangrove leaves, Zhanjiang (Photo: Xiao Zili)

A cattle egret resting on mangroves, Zhanjiang (Photo: Xiao Zili)

Two egrets in mangroves, Zhanjiang (Photo: Xiao Zili)

An egret and its nest on mangroves, Zhanjiang (Photo: Xiao Zili)

Egrets gathering on tidal mud flat, Zhanjiang (Photo: Lan Weiqiang)

Egrets and sunset, Zhanjiang (Photo: Xiao Zili)

A beach full of egrets, Zhanjiang (Photo: Luo Jinping)

Author | Tonny (Intern), Chen Siyuan

Editor | Monica, James