Hungry birds to get help from above

JIUJIANG, Jiangxi - If weather permits, China will launch its first airdrop of food on Tuesday for starving migratory birds that have taken up residence around its largest freshwater lake.

Around 2 tons of fish and corn will be airdropped to a 133-square-kilometer reserve near drought-hit Poyang Lake, said Zhao Jinsheng, director of the food and resources office of the Jiangxi Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve Authority.

"If many birds turn out to eat the dropped food, we will arrange the next round of airdrops after Spring Festival," Zhao said, adding that a total of 25 tons of food has been prepared, including 10 tons of fish, 10 tons of grain and 5 tons of corn. Spring Festival falls on Jan 23.