Download - Hzgd15 13 sep 2012 - vivian fu - birdlife international - saving the chinese crested tern
Wing Kan Fu , Vivian China Programme Officer
BirdLife International / HKBWSChina Programme
~ 1,300 bird species (13% global spp.)
>80 globally threatened spp. China is the key site of 50% of these spp.
445 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) identified
The importance of mainland China to birds:
Chinese Crested Tern中华凤头燕鸥
Species name: Thalasseus bernsteini A kind of seabird ~43cm long
Photo credit: Chen Shui Hua
Chinese Crested Tern中华凤头燕鸥
Species name: Thalasseus bernsteini
Chinese Crested Tern Great Crested Tern Photo credit: Chen Shui Hua
HistoryFirst specimen collected at the Island of Kao, Halmahera, eastern Indonesia on 22 November 1861.
Photo credit: Chen Shui Hua
‐ China: records in Shangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces. ‐ No records since the last 21 specimens collected in 1937 near Qingdao, Shandong.
Photo credit: Simba Chan
Last Records!!!
Rediscovery Summer 2000 4 pairs found in Mazu After 63
years!!!
Photo credit: Simba Chan
Discovery in Zhejiang Province
Another breeding colony was found on Jiushan Islands, Zhejiang in August 2004.
In 2007, the population seemed to move to another island Wuzishan Islands, Zhejiang.
Photo credit: Chen Shuihua
Status < 50 individuals at present (Critically Endangered);Only two breeding colonies are discovered, on islets off the east coast of mainland China;
Wintering ground has never been reported;Migration route is still unknown
Fujian
Zhejiang
Taiwan
Threats Biggest Enemy‐‐‐Human!!
Photo credit: Chen Shuihua
Threats Predators and introduced species
Threats Indirect disturbance:
Typhoon Pollution and rubbish Over‐fishing
Photo credit: Chen Shuihua Photo credit: Fujian Bird Watching Society
Conservation An International Action plan produced by BirdLife International with Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) in 2010
Conservation Little ecological information on Chinese Crested Tern
Needs for survey: Survey for unknown breeding sites.
New sites in Zhejiang Provinces found in 2004 and 2008.
Conservation
Main threats: egg collectionRaise awareness To public: schools and local communities To government
Education and promotion at schools
(Photo credit: Fujian Bird Watching Society)
Public awareness campaign
(Photo credit: Zhejiang Wild Bird Society)
Promotional materials
Conservation
Better management and protection at breeding sitesRaise awareness Advocacy with government
Promote and strengthen protection in Nature Reserves
Establish nature reserve in Zhejiang
National Nature Reserve in Fujian
Raising awareness outside China
Where is the wintering ground of Chinese Crested ?
Producing promotional materials
(Photo credit: Simba Chan)
December, 2010One wintering Chinese Crested Tern sighted in Seram, eastern Indonesia!!
(photo credit:Craig Robson)
You can help!! Do not eat seabirds’ eggs
Do not land on islands which have breeding seabirds
Spread the message of protection to Chinese Crested Tern and its home to family and friends
With your support, we can save another species from extinction!
AcknowledgementZhejiang WildBird Society Fujian Bird Watching Society
Thank you!
Useful links BirdLife International factsheet: http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3264
Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 32:http://www.orientalbirdclub.org/publications/bullfeats/chincres.html
Zhejiang Wild Bird Society:http://www.zjbird.cn/
Fujian Bird Watching Society: http://www.fjbirds.org/html/bbs.html