Researchers from the Guangdong Academy of Sciences recently recorded 20 endangered spoon-billed sandpipers in the tidal flats in the Leizhou Fucheng area of Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve, marking the highest single-day count in Guangdong in four years.
The spoon-billed sandpiper, known for its specific habitat needs, is a critically endangered species and is under first-class national protection in China. This record also included three birds with tracking flags: yellow 53, yellow 0X, and light green M4. Notably, the bird with yellow 0X was the spoon-billed sandpiper tagged in China's wintering grounds in 2019.
The largest previous record at the Zhanjiang station, part of a national winter census, was 43 birds, and in recent years, birds of 28 to 35 were recorded, spreading across multiple monitoring points.
The reserve's management will continue monitoring migratory bird activity to protect the wetlands and ensure a safe environment for these rare species. Guangdong has recorded 584 wild bird species, including 412 migratory birds. The Leizhou Peninsula remains a key wintering site for this rare bird, reflecting Guangdong's improving ecological environment.
Author: Huang Xinying
Photo: Nanfang Plus
Editor: Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
