NANCHANG — Over 766,000 water birds had been monitored at Poyang Lake in East China's Jiangxi province throughout 2021, hitting a record high, the latest waterfowl survey shows.

A total of 67 species of waterfowl have been detected, the Jiangxi Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve Administration said on the basis of the last field survey results in 2021.

"More and more local residents are joining in the protection efforts as their awareness of environmental protection grows. That is the reason why the migratory birds fall in love with Poyang Lake," said Dai Nianhua, a researcher with the institute of bioresources of the Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, adding that the implementation of a 10-year fishing ban in Poyang Lake has better protected aquatic organisms and created favorable conditions for birds to breed.

A new regulation on protecting migratory birds in the province took effect on Jan 1.

Home to 382 species of birds, Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China and an important wintering place for waterfowl in Asia.