The birds were purchased by volunteers who came to Century Square in Jilin to join in an annual campaign named "Caring for Birds Week," which usually falls during a week in April or May.

During the week, people, especially children, are encouraged to take part in activities that include feeding birds, viewing related exhibitions and observing birds in the countryside.

Volunteer Ge Jun and his friend Liu Liwei were not put off by rain as he came to the square from the provincial capital Changchun with 3,000 sparrows they redeemed from restaurants at a total cost of more than 4,000 yuan (about US$482).

Pointing at the chirping birds in the cages, Ge said, "They are friends of human beings."

Liu Zhenhai, a 70-year-old local in Jilin, carefully holds a cotton bag which holds a lovely sparrow hawk he purchased from a restaurant half a year ago at a cost of 80 yuan (about US$9.64).

"The little creature's wings are full-grown. It's time to let it go," he said with tears welling in his eyes.

Zhang Lufeng, deputy head of the Forestry Bureau of Jilin Province, said more and more people have realized the importance of caring for birds and have joined the annual campaign that started in 1984.

Bird expert Gao Wei with the Northeast Normal School said although similar campaigns are held every year, problems such as hunting, smuggling and selling birds illegally still exist.

In some regions, human interference has severely damaged the habitats of some birds and pushed them to the brink of extinction, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2003)