A total of 4,004 white cranes, one of the world's rarest bird species, have been counted in a recent survey of migratory birds wintering over at Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in east China's Jiangxi province.

The news will spark a review of the International Crane Foundation (ICF)'s record that says only 3000 white cranes currently exist in the world.

This is the second time that Lake Poyang has countered the ICF's authoritative conclusions. In 1983, the ICF after a survey declared there were only 300 white cranes left worldwide. However,in 1985, about 1,300 white cranes appeared in the vicinity of LakePoyang, prompting comparisons to a "second Great Wall". In 1989, the ICF corrected its records and raised the number of white cranes to 3,000.

According to workers conducting the survey, the increase in migratory birds is closely related to the improvements in the local environment.

The end of 2002 saw a four-year relocation project completed, which enlarged the area of the lake to 5,100 square kilometers, providing more space for the birds to find food.

The government ban on fishing in Lake Poyang for more than ten years has also meant more food available for migratory birds.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2003)