Two spoon-billed sandpipers, a national first-class protected species nicknamed "little spoon," were spotted by volunteers from the Zhanjiang Birdwatching Society at Shajiaoxuan in Wuchuan County recently. This marks the earliest arrival of the species on the Leizhou Peninsula this autumn.
The spoon-billed sandpiper is a small wader, classified as an endangered species, with fewer than 800 individuals remaining worldwide. Spoon-billed sandpipers breed on the coastal tundra of far-eastern Russia and occur only along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. From August to October, spoon-billed sandpipers begin migrating to the Leizhou Peninsula for the winter.
Zhanjiang lies along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway and serves as an important stopover and wintering ground for birds, thanks to its distinctive coastal ecosystem. From late autumn to early spring, large numbers of migratory birds arrive in Zhanjiang, either continuing southward after refuelling or staying to winter here.
In recent years, the Zhanjiang government has actively promoted the forest chief scheme, enforced a ban on bird hunting, and taken strong measures against illegal poaching. In addition, the Zhanjiang government has also been actively restoring mangrove wetlands. Social organizations regularly monitor migratory birds, assist in rescuing injured ones, and raise public awareness of bird conservation through education.
Author: Liu Yue
Photo: Nanfang Plus
Editor: Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
