Tens of thousands of migratory birds are flocking to the Hongjiannao National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Shaanxi Province for a stopover of their overwintering migration.
About 20,000 to 30,000 birds, including whooper swans, mallards and bean geese, arrived at the nature reserve in recent days as colder weather pushes the birds to migrate south for overwintering habitation. They were spotted flying, resting up, swimming or foraging in the nature reserve.
The lake in the nature reserve, China's largest desert freshwater lake, has become the world's leading breeding ground for the relict gulls, which is under first-class national protection in China.
With expansive water areas and abundant food resources, the nature reserve, located along the central route of China's three migratory pathways for birds, serves as an ideal site for rest and energy replenishment for migratory birds.
Nature reserve in Shaanxi lures flocks of migratory birds for overwintering stopover
The second black box has been found at the plane crash site near Aktau and handed over to the investigation department, according to a Kazakh official from transport department on Thursday.
The Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.
Of all the 67 people on board, 38 were killed in the crash, and 29 survivors including two children were pulled from the wreckage, Kazakh authorities said on Wednesday.
According to the official, interviews have been carried out with victims, ground service workers and all witnesses to this incident. Radio communication recordings between the crew and dispatchers have been retrieved, and the investigation of the crash site, covering more than 4,000 square meters, is underway.
Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said on Thursday during a press conference that the cause of the plane crash remains unknown and is still under investigation.
Bozumbayev said that Kazakhstan is in contact with the relevant departments from Azerbaijan. He said Kazakhstan does not have an official version of the accident, and neither Russia nor Azerbaijan has provided one.
Second black box found at plane crash site near Aktau: Kazakh official
