| 2025년 1월에 실시된 저어새 국제동시센서스에서 7081마리가 기록되었네요. 한국 52 대만 4169 Deep Bay 328 마카오 16 중국 1671 베트남 112 일본 716 필리핀 17 처음으로 7000마리를 넘겼구요. 저어새 개체수가 계속 증가하고 있어 다행이네요. 원문 용량이 커서 안올라가네요. 글을 게시판에 올립니다. 2025 International Black-faced Spoonbill Census Yat-tung Yu, Pak-yung Kong, Chung-hoi Li, Yat-long Anson Tse, Anna Louise Moulin The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society Abstract The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) coordinated the annual International Black-faced Spoonbill Census from 17 – 19 January, 2025. This census recorded a total of 7,081 wintering Black-faced Spoonbills across wetland sites from the Korean Peninsula and western Japan in the north, along the coastline of China, and south to the Philippines. This total represents a 1.3% increase from the previous winter’s count of 6,988 individuals, setting a new record high for this species. The largest wintering site remains Tainan, with 2,439 individuals counted. Increases were observed in Mainland China, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines. However, decreases were recorded in Deep Bay (Hong Kong and Shenzhen) and Thailand. With this wintering population figure, the Black-faced Spoonbill appears to have a better conservation outlook than in the past. Nonetheless, certain areas, such as Macao, require more attention and resources to address the continuous or long-term decline in numbers. Understanding the habitat requirements of this species in these sites is crucial for its conservation. Introduction The Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) primarily inhabits intertidal mudflats on the eastern fringe of Asia (Hancock et al., 1992; del Hoyo et al., 1992; Yu and Swennen, 2004; Sung et al., 2017). However, this mudflat specialist can occasionally be found in other types of wetlands (Wood et al., 2013; Chen et al., 2021). In the early 1990s, this species was considered very rare, with fewer than 300 individuals recorded at a few sites in the East Asia region (Kennerley, 1990). Since then, conservation measures have been implemented (Severinghaus et al., 1995), and public awareness and protection of this species and its habitat have increased (Chan et al., 2010). The annual census results indicate a recovery in the number of spoonbills, with over 1,000 individuals recorded in 2003, 2,000 in 2008, 3,000 in 2015, 4,000 in 2019, 5,000 in 2021, 6,000 in 2022 and 7,000 in 2025 (Chart 1). The species is currently listed as globally Endangered due to a suspected very rapid population decline in the near future, driven by predicted habitat 8 loss from industrial development, land reclamation, and pollution (BirdLife International, 2017). With this recovery trend, it is likely that the threatened status of the Black-faced Spoonbill will be lowered in the foreseeable future. This annual census is listed as a ‘high priority’ in the conservation plans for this globally endangered species (Severinghaus et al., 1995; Chan et al., 2010) because it has proven to be an effective means of gathering annual figures on the wintering Black-faced Spoonbill population and distribution through international collaboration. Additionally, it serves as a valuable tool for increasing public awareness of the spoonbill. This synchronized survey across all known wintering sites should continue to provide up-to-date data (Sung et al., 2017). The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society has coordinated this census since 2003. This report aims to present the results of the census conducted in January 2025. Method The methodology of this census has remained consistent across all iterations and was published in Sung et al. (2017) and included in previous reports (e.g., Yu et al., 2024). The census is conducted in mid-winter when the wintering populations of spoonbills are stable. The dates for the censuses coincide with the spring tides in Deep Bay (between Hong Kong and Shenzhen) and the Red River Delta in Vietnam, as high tide facilitates counting in these areas. In 2025, the census period was scheduled for 17 – 19 January. Survey areas for this census are shown in Map 1, and details of each site are listed in Tables 1 and 2. Technical guidelines were provided to surveyors in advance of the census. Most counts were conducted within the census period. For sites in close proximity, such as Mai Po and nearby fishponds in Hong Kong, and Futian in Shenzhen in the Deep Bay area, counts were conducted synchronously, as spoonbills can fly between these sites within an hour. All counts in the census were aided by binoculars and telescopes. The census relies on the volunteer efforts of local birdwatchers, conservationists, researchers, ornithologists, and nature reserve officers. Census results were summarized by regional coordinators or individual surveyors before being submitted to the international coordinator for analysis, announcement, and preparation of this report. 9 Results and discussion Overview The 2025 census recorded an unprecedented 7,081 Black-faced Spoonbills in the East and Southeast Asia region, marking a new high for this species (Tables 1 and 9). This figure represents a 1.3% increase from the previous census, with an annual percentage change of 8.9% since the census began in winter 1993-94 (Table 9). The situations of different wintering areas and specific sites are discussed below. During the census period, all wintering Black-faced Spoonbills were found across 151 sites in this region, an increase of 27 sites from the previous year (Table 10). Many of these sites have multiple-year observations of wintering Black-faced Spoonbills, indicating regular visitation by the species. Taiwan 2025: 4,169 birds Taiwan remains the world’s largest wintering ground for the Black-faced Spoonbill. A total of 4,169 birds were recorded in this census, an increase of 34 individuals (0.8%) compared to the 2024 census. This total represents 58.9% of the known wintering population of this species. The spoonbills were found in several locations: 2,439 birds in Tainan City, 701 in Chiayi County, 408 in Kaohsiung City, 255 at the Zhuoshui River mouth, 202 in Yunlin County, 75 in Pingtung County, 36 in Yilan County, 23 in Kinmen County, 15 in Penghu County, 13 in Changhua County and smaller numbers in New Taipei City and Taitung County. Details of the counts at Taiwan sites are shown in Tables 1 and 3. Pearl River Estuary (including Deep Bay between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Cotai in Macao) 2025: 344 birds (328 in Deep Bay, 16 in Macao) The total number of wintering Black-faced Spoonbills in this area saw a 11.3% decrease (44 birds) from the previous year (Table 4). Deep Bay and Macao represent 4.6% and 0.2% of the known global wintering population, respectively. The survey area in Deep Bay covered all wetland sites, including fishponds around Mai Po and Lok Ma Chau mitigation wetland, Mai Po Nature Reserve and the Inner Deep Bay mudflat, Hong Kong Wetland Park, intertidal areas from Tsim Bei Tsui to Pak Nai on the Hong Kong side, as well as Futian National Nature Reserve and nearby wetland sites on the Shenzhen side. In Macao, the main survey areas were Ecological Zones I and II in Cotai, designated 10 for wildlife and wetland conservation. The intertidal mudflat adjacent to these zones and any suitable coastal habitats were also included in the census. Though the number had a small increase of three individuals, these habitats may no longer be as attractive as they were in the past. A total of 184 Black-faced Spoonbills were found in nearby sites at Zhuhai and Jiangmen during this census, a 4.0% increase from last year, indicating that these nearby areas could be more attractive than the traditional site at Macao. Nansha Wetland in Guangzhou, also located in the Pearl River Delta area, recorded 46 spoonbills during the census (Table 1), constituting 0.6% of the global wintering population. The surveys at Zhuhai, Jiangmen and Guangzhou have not yet been synchronized with those of Deep Bay and Macao, so the total number for the Pearl River Estuary should be treated with caution when including the figures from Zhuhai, Jiangmen and Guangzhou. Currently, these figures are included in Guangdong Province, Mainland China. Mainland China (excluding Deep Bay) 2025: 1,671 birds The number of wintering Black-faced Spoonbills in Mainland China increased by 2.5% from 2024. This census recorded a total of 1,671 individuals across 51 sites, constituting 23.6% of the current global wintering population. The number of Black-faced Spoonbills in this area has continued to increase since 2017, despite a slight drop in 2021 (Table 5). This is the sixth consecutive year that the number of wintering Black-faced Spoonbills has exceeded 1,000 birds in Mainland China. The wintering Black-faced Spoonbills were found in various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities during this census: 7 in Jiangsu, 12 in Shanghai, 139 in Zhejiang, 413 in Fujian, 901 in Guangdong (excluding Deep Bay), and 199 in Hainan (Chart 4). Since 2021, Guangdong has remained the primary wintering ground for Black-faced Spoonbills in Mainland China, with the population sharply increasing in recent years. This year, the number of Black-faced Spoonbills wintering in Guangdong has doubled compared to 2021, making up 53.9% of the wintering population in Mainland China. Following this, Fujian, Hainan, and Zhejiang are the next prominent provinces for wintering Black-faced Spoonbills, representing 24.7%, 11.9%, and 8.3% of the Mainland China population respectively. 11 The single largest wintering flock was 451 individuals recorded at Haifeng, followed by 184 individuals at Zhuhai and Jiangmen (both in Guangdong province) and 161 individuals at Xinghua Bay in Fujian province. Notably, a total of 199 Black-faced Spoonbills were counted at four sites in Hainan, the third consecutive year with a number close to 200. Details of the counts in Mainland China are shown in Table 1. Vietnam 2025: 112 birds The 2025 census recorded 112 wintering Black-faced Spoonbills at Xuan Thuy National Park (Table 6), which is a new high count of this species for Vietnam. This figure represents 1.6% of the global wintering population and marks an increase of 26 birds (30.2%) from the previous year. This is also the first year with over a hundred birds recorded in Vietnam during the census, which is a very encouraging sign for conservation of this species at this site. Japan 2025: 716 birds The number of wintering Black-faced Spoonbills in Japan is 716 individuals, a slight increase of 14 individuals (2.0%) from the previous year, which is a new high for this species in Japan. This figure constitutes 10.1% of the global wintering population. Most of the Black-faced Spoonbills in Japan were found in Kyushu, with 628 individuals at 61 sites, contributing 8.9% of the total wintering population. Additionally, 70 individuals were recorded in Honshu, and 18 in the Okinawa Island. Details of the numbers and sites in Japan are shown in Tables 1, 2, and 7. Republic of Korea 2025: 52 birds The largest wintering flock in Korea was 27 Black-faced Spoonbills recorded at Jeju Island, with 25 spoonbills were recorded on the Korean Peninsula during the census. Jeju Island continues to be a regular wintering ground for large flocks of Black-faced Spoonbills in Korea. The total of 52 individuals was only two birds fewer than the all-time winter high number (i.e. 54 birds) recorded in January 2023. Thailand [2025: 0 birds No Black-faced Spoonbills recorded during the census period.] 12 Cambodia [2025: 0 birds No Black-faced Spoonbills recorded during the census period.] The Philippines 2025: 17 birds During the census, 17 Black-faced Spoonbills were recorded in Bulakan, Bulacan, at Manila Bay, marking a new high count for the species in the Philippines during the census period. Additionally, 83 Black-faced Spoonbills were reported at Manila Bay in March 2025, indicating that the census figure may be an underestimate, as the spoonbills may be wintering at other sites in the Philippines away from Manila Bay. Further investigation of various sites in the Philippines during winter months can provide more information on the wintering population. Conclusion This census recorded a total of 7,081 wintering Black-faced Spoonbills, setting a record high for this species. Encouragingly, the number exceeded 7,000 for the first time. The species continues to show a genuine increase since the commencement of the annual census, with most counts indicating long-term growth. This positive trend is attributed to site protection, increased awareness of the species through the census, and other conservation activities. A recent study assessing the impact of these efforts suggests that the species could potentially achieve full recovery within the next 100 years (Cano-Alonso et al., 2023). This would be a significant achievement not only for the species but also for bird conservation in the Asia region. However, the annual increase was only 1.3% this year, which is much lower than the average annual increase rate of 10.0% over the last ten years. This may suggest that the capacity of breeding and wintering sites is approaching its limit. It is necessary to continue this annual census to update both the population trends of the species and the trends at each site. This is the baseline information for considering what conservation measures can be applied promptly to safeguard this species for long-term survival. The population of wintering Black-faced Spoonbills increased in most regular wintering sites: +33.3% in the Republic of Korea, +30.2% in Vietnam, +23.1% in Macao, +2.5% in Mainland China (excluding Deep Bay), +2.0% in Japan, and +0.8% in Taiwan. Conversely, a decrease was recorded in Deep Bay (Hong Kong and Shenzhen) of 12.5%. 13 Ongoing habitat management throughout the Black-faced Spoonbill’s wintering range is crucial to accommodate the expanding population. Taiwan continues to serve as the primary wintering habitat for the Black-faced Spoonbill, although the population growth appears to have slowed. Outbreaks of avian diseases and the expansion of solar panel installations in fishpond areas have resulted in the loss of suitable habitats, potentially contributing to the diminishing trend in Taiwan. Macao, a traditional wintering site for Black-faced Spoonbills, has seen a large decline in recent years. Despite an increase of three this year to 16, it remains the second-lowest on record in the last 25 years. The future of this traditional site remains uncertain. In Mainland China (excluding Deep Bay), the number of Black-faced Spoonbills reached 1,671, a slight increase of 2.5% from last year. Man-made habitats including wetland parks and semi-intensive farming fishponds remain key wintering habitats. Therefore, conservation management of these habitats has become a high priority for the long-term survival of the spoonbills. Notably, the census recorded a new record high in Guangdong (excluding Deep Bay) with a 14.3% increase. Hainan also saw an 8.2% increase, reaching 199, its second-highest count on record. However, Fujian experienced a decrease of 16.7%, with its count of 413 falling below the numbers from 2019 and 2024. A wetland site should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of a waterbird species (Ramsar Convention Secretariat 2005). The ‘1% population level’ of wintering Black-faced Spoonbill could be defined by an average figure of the last five censuses, i.e., 64 individuals out of 6,417 individuals. Hence, sites with 64 individuals or above of wintering Black-faced Spoonbills could be considered important for this species. From the results of this census, the internationally important sites for Black-faced Spoonbill included: • Tainan City, Taiwan – 2,439 birds • Chiayi County, Taiwan – 701 birds • Haifeng, Guangdong – 451 birds • Kaohsiung City, Taiwan – 408 birds • Deep Bay, Hong Kong and Shenzhen – 328 birds • Zhuoshui River mouth, Taiwan – 255 birds • Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu – 207 birds • Yunlin County, Taiwan – 202 birds 14 • Zhuhai and Jiangmen, Guangdong – 184 birds • Xinghua Bay, Fuqing area, Fujian – 161 birds • Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu – 152 birds • Shantou, Guangdong – 126 birds • Zhangzhou, Fujian – 112 birds • Xuan Thuy, Red River Delta, Vietnam – 112 birds • Quanzhou, Fujian – 104 birds • Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu – 98 birds • Saga Prefecture – Kyushu - 89 birds • Wenzhou, Zhejiang – 83 birds • Hailingdati, Yangjiang, Guangdong – 80 birds • Pingtung County, Taiwan – 75 birds • Xinying Bay, Hainan – 64 birds All the census figures can be used to assess spoonbill population trends. Trends at most major sites, as analyzed by Sung et al. (2017), indicate that these trends are associated with the habitat quality of the respective sites. This long-term, volunteer-based census has proven to be an important action for studying and promoting the conservation of this globally threatened waterbird by providing annual comparable figures. |
