A great bustard paces back and forth on a field in Sangyuan village in Beijing’s Tongzhou district in 2021. The endangered bird has returned to the village to spend the winter season. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Urban Sub center Bird Love Association

The great bustards’ first visit to this field in Sangyuan village dates back to seven years ago. Urbanization development, including housing demolitions and relocations that have been going on there since 2012, may affect the birds’ habitat in the future. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

A harvester startles birds in a field in October. The local authority decided to plant corn once a year and not to grow winter wheat on the field to protect the birds’ habitat. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Urban Sub center Bird Love Association

A farmer plants winter wheat at night on the field in October, despite rules prohibiting the practice. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Urban Sub center Bird Love Association

Volunteers spot an injured great bustard in the area in January. The bird died during treatment. Photo: Li Zhou, special contributor/Caixin

Volunteers set up a commemorative arrangement to mourn the death of the injured great bustard they tried to rescue. Data shows about 2,000 of the eastern subspecies of great bustard remain in China. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Urban Sub center Bird Love Association

Children clean up the field for the birds in the winter in 2021. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Urban Sub center Bird Love Association

Using telephoto lens, volunteers capture images of great bustards on Dec. 9. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Great bustards were observed on a snow-covered field last year. A male great bustard can exceed 40 pounds, making the animal one of the heaviest flying birds in the world. Photo: Courtesy of Beijing Urban Sub center Bird Love Association