Recently, Chinese wildlife conservation officials made the first-ever discovery of two juvenile Black-faced Spoonbills in the Yellow River Plain, located in the eastern part of the country.
Black-faced Spoonbill in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, Southern China. (Photo credit: THX/TTXVN)
According to the Management Board of the National Nature Reserve of the Yellow River Plain in Shandong Province, the two juvenile spoonbills were discovered at the end of May. As of now, both are healthy and have left their nest.
This first sighting of Black-faced Spoonbills in the Yellow River Plain also indicates that this critically endangered species is expanding its range southward by several hundred kilometers.
It is known that this species typically breeds on islands near the Korean Peninsula.
A conservation official stated that the presence of these birds also demonstrates that the ecological environment of the Yellow River Plain has improved. Moreover, the juvenile birds spotted are hybrids between the Black-faced and White-faced Spoonbills, making them even more valuable for research purposes.
The Black-faced Spoonbill is a critically endangered species and is currently classified as a first-class national protected species in China.
According to newly released international survey data from 2024, the global population of Black-faced Spoonbills is 6,988, with 6,200 individuals found in China.
