Drone footage reveals a stork guarding its nest and chicks atop a transmission tower in Suqian, Jiangsu Province.

The visuals show the stork standing on its nest with several chicks huddling together.

The oriental white stork is a national first-class protected animal in China and there are estimated to be around just 3,000 in the wild across the world.

Protective equipment was installed on the pylon to ensure the birds' safety.

This footage was filmed and produced 8 April 2022.

Video shows oriental white storks guard their nests on a power transmission tower in Suqian, Jiangsu Province, China, April 8, 2022. Oriental white stork is a national first-class protected animal, known as the 'giant panda among birds', there are only about 3,000 Oriental white storks in the wild in the world. In order to protect their safe life, the power supply department installed protective baffle around the transmission tower, which not only protects the safety of Oriental white storks, but also enables the safe operation of the line.