Chinese crested terns on Wuzhishan Island in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: zjzsqdxq]

Wuzhishan Island in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, has been listed among the best places for bird watching, the Zhejiang Provincial Forestry Bureau announced on March 31.

Twelve places in the province made the list.

The Wuzhishan Island Nature Reserve is currently home to 20,000 water birds divided into 51 species, including Chinese crested terns, which is the rarest bird in China and is listed as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. 

Chinese egrets under national first-class protection and Greater crested terns under national second-class protection have also been spotted on the island.

Since 2017, about 180 Chinese crested terns have been observed and 70 young birds were born on the city's two nearby islands.

The best season to watch birds is from June to September.