Where the birds are, so is the photographer

Over the past 15 years, photographer Chen Lin has shot more than a million photos of various rare and endangered birds across China and in Africa.

"With these photos, I not only record the various poses of birds, but also tell stories of harmony between humans and birds," said Chen, who comes from Fuzhou, Fujian province. "After visiting different places, I found that the best place to capture birds was at my side."

In spring, Chen would walk into the mountains in suburban Fuzhou to capture birds in the breeding season. In summer, he would stay at the Minjiang River estuary wetland to seek black-faced spoonbills. In autumn, he would visit Daxi village in Fujian's Yongtai county to record silver pheasants dancing at the riverside. And in winter, he would go to find endangered Chinese mergansers near a small tributary of the Minjiang River.

The Minjiang estuary wetland, a national nature reserve in Fuzhou, is where Chen goes most frequently. It has emerged as a paradise for the critically endangered birds thanks to its well-protected natural environment and rich biodiversity.

With a protection area of 2,382 hectares, the wetland has become home for 266 species of birds including the black-faced spoonbill, little swan, collared kingfisher and spoon-billed sandpiper.

"Improvement in the water environment is not only a need for birds but also for humans," Chen said. "I will continue to record the good ecological environment in Fuzhou and present it to more people."