Black-faced spoonbill

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Black-faced spoonbill
Black faced spoonbill at Niigata.JPG
Summer plumage at Niigata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Genus: Platalea
Species:
P. minor
Binomial name
Platalea minor
Wintering in Aogu Wetland, Taiwan Aogu Wetlands and Forest Part Yi-Cheng, Chen 555593995 - 4.jpg
Wintering in Aogu Wetland, Taiwan

The black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) is a species of wading bird in the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae, found in eastern Asia. This species has the most restricted distribution of the six spoonbill species, and it is the only one regarded as endangered. Spoonbills are large water birds with dorso-ventrally flattened, spatulate bills. [2] These birds use a tactile method of feeding, wading in the water and sweeping their beaks from side-to-side to detect prey. [3] Confined to the coastal areas of eastern Asia, it seems that it was once common throughout its area of distribution. It currently breeds only on a few small rocky islands off the west coast of North Korea, with four wintering sites at Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam, as well as other places where they have been observed in migration. Wintering also occurs in Jeju, South Korea, Kyushu and Okinawa, Japan, and the Red River delta in Vietnam. More recently, sightings of black-faced spoonbill birds were noted in Thailand, the Philippines, and additional sites in China. [1]

Contents

The black-faced spoonbill was internationally classified as an endangered species by the IUCN in 2000. Nearly driven to global extirpation in the 1980s, conservation efforts amongst various Asian countries in recent years has helped in bringing its population back onto a steadily increasing trend. [4] The black-faced spoonbill population in the 2012 census was recorded at 2,693 birds, with an estimation of 1,600 mature birds. Breeding colonies occur between March and August, on small islands. In the 2022 global census, the black-faced spoonbill population was recorded at 6,162 individuals. [4]

Black-faced spoonbills are known to be crepuscular eaters, using intertidal mudflats. [1] Conservation efforts on protecting breeding sites and wintering sites have been made since, and surveys were taken in order to determine the opinions and awareness of the local residents, residing close to the black-faced spoonbill's natural habitats. One survey taken by Jin et al. 2008, inquired upon the 'Willingness-To-Pay" factor in the locals, as well as understanding effects on mandatory surcharges compared to voluntary payments. [3]

Taxonomy

A study of mitochondrial DNA of the spoonbills found that the black-faced and royal spoonbills were each other's closest relatives. [5] Out of the six Platalea species within the family Threskiornithidae, the black-faced spoonbill is the rarest. [5]

Breeding

Black-faced spoonbills reached a serious low in population in the 1990s, but by 2003 their numbers increased to at least 1,069 counted individuals. [5] While it is known that their breeding area covers northeastern China and several islands between North and South Korea, [6] human-assisted breeding efforts have not been overly successful due to the difficulty in sexing the black-faced spoonbills, yet using the polymerase chain reaction technique on DNA samples has allowed researchers to use another method to correctly sex adult Platalea minor specimens. [5]

After migrating to their wintering locations, black-faced spoonbills return with yellow breeding plumage, which extends from the back of their heads to their breasts. [6] While this plumage only develops during the third or fourth year of life when the black-billed spoonbill is sexually mature, only about half of black-faced spoonbills with this plumage breed each breeding season, which contributes to the very slow pace at which the population numbers are increasing.

Distribution

The global population of this species, is likely based on the winter population count which was carried out in 1988–1990 in all known sites. This count estimated about only 288 individuals. As of 2006, following sustained conservation efforts, the estimated global population had increased to 1,679; [7] the 2008 census resulted in an estimated total count of 2,065 individuals ; and a 2010 census reported 2,346 . The known localised population of North Korea is not known to exceed 30 birds. However, there is believed to be another, so far undiscovered colony which provides regional population stability and it is assumed to be probably located in north-east China; for example, on the islands of Liaoning (near the Korean nesting zone).

As black-faced spoonbills are migratory birds, their conservation is based on the protection of their breeding, "stop-over" and wintering grounds, making conservation efforts complex. However, spoonbills are able to adapt to disturbances of large-scale. The exact distribution of the species remains unclear, although some attempts at modelling population developments under climate change impacts have been made. [8]

Threats

It is thought that the principal cause of the decline of this species is the destruction of its habitat, more particularly the "valorization" of intertidal mudholes for agriculture, and more recently aquaculture and industrialization. The Korean War (1950–1953) must also have had a negative impact on the species, because the birds ceased nesting in South Korea at that time. In Japan, where it was once common for them to winter, they became extremely rare at this same time, and in later years there has never been a winter in which more than 5 birds were observed.

With the construction of a Shinkansen bridge in the Yatsushiro Sea between 2004 and 2009 next to a very important migration site for the black-faced spoonbills, many feared that it would cause their numbers to decrease. Thankfully, because of carefully planned out measures implemented in order to counter act the construction of the bridge, the population actually managed to increase during the time of construction. [9]

Human disturbances can also be much more direct. Many humans disturb mating patterns unknowingly by taking photographs of birds during their mating time, leading to a decrease in offspring. According to a research done in the Xing-Ren Tuo region of China in 1999, shellfish collectors, photographers, powerboats, and gull egg collectors are the major sources of disturbance causing the black-faced spoonbill to leave their nests. [10]

Conservation

Protected breeding site and Ganghwa Island tidal flat, South Korea jeoeosaebeonsigji3.jpg
Protected breeding site and Ganghwa Island tidal flat, South Korea

The bird is a protected species in China as part of the China Red Data Book; its stopover site at Jiuduansha off Shanghai is a national nature preserve. [12] In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 200. In Mai Po Marshes, a quarter of the world's population of black-faced spoonbill can be found during migration.

The species is reasonably well protected in North Korea, where their nesting islands off the coast were declared a Zone of Protection with restricted access, thus there is some degree of stability in the breeding areas. There remain nevertheless several threats, mainly in the wintering zones. The need for land to assign to industry is great in the wintering sites in Taiwan, whereas those in Vietnam are being converted for shrimp breeding, though they are within a reserve subject to the Ramsar Convention.

During the winter months, over half of the black-faced spoonbill population migrates to the Chiku Wetland in southwestern Taiwan. The birds are incapable of catching large fish; therefore many of them rely on the largescale mullets to feed off of in the winter months spent in the wetlands. [13] These mullets however have recently become endangered due to the increase of spoonbill population who spend the winter months there (minimum of 191 birds in 1991/1992 up to a minimum of 840 in 2004/2005). Conservation of the largescale mullet is imperative in order to continue to sustain the endangered black-faced spoonbills. [13]

In Hong Kong, disturbances by fishermen and shell gatherers often prevent the birds from feeding at low tide. In addition, with the continued expansion of human populations in the Far East, pollution will probably become an important problem. Disease has the ability to devastate the black-face spoonbills as well. In the winter of 2002/2003, 73 of the population died due to avian botulism. It may be necessary to establish additional protective areas or reserves in order to not let the population of birds to succumb to disease. [14]

The black-faced spoonbill is legally recognized as natural monument #205 and a first-class endangered species in South Korea

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Threskiornithidae</span> Family of birds

The family Threskiornithidae includes 36 species of large wading birds. The family has been traditionally classified into two subfamilies, the ibises and the spoonbills; however recent genetic studies have cast doubt on this arrangement, and have found the spoonbills to be nested within the Old World ibises, and the New World ibises as an early offshoot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American white ibis</span> Bird in the ibis family

The American white ibis is a species of bird in the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. It is found from Virginia via the Gulf Coast of the United States south through most of the coastal New World tropics. This particular ibis is a medium-sized bird with an overall white plumage, bright red-orange down-curved bill and long legs, and black wing tips that are usually only visible in flight. Males are larger and have longer bills than females. The breeding range runs along the Gulf and Atlantic Coast, and the coasts of Mexico and Central America. Outside the breeding period, the range extends further inland in North America and also includes the Caribbean. It is also found along the northwestern South American coastline in Colombia and Venezuela. Populations in central Venezuela overlap and interbreed with the scarlet ibis. The two have been classified by some authorities as a single species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glossy ibis</span> Species of bird

The glossy ibis is a water bird in the order Pelecaniformes and the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The scientific name derives from Ancient Greek plegados and Latin, falcis, both meaning "sickle" and referring to the distinctive shape of the bill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurasian spoonbill</span> Species of bird

The Eurasian spoonbill, or common spoonbill, is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The genus name Platalea is from Latin and means "broad", referring to the distinctive shape of the bill, and leucorodia is from Ancient Greek leukerodios "spoonbill", itself derived from leukos, "white" and erodios "heron". In England it was traditionally known as the "shovelard", a name later used for the Northern Shoveller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African spoonbill</span> Species of bird

The African spoonbill is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mai Po Marshes</span> Nature reserve in Hong Kong

Mai Po Marshes (Chinese: 米埔濕地; Hong Kong Hakka: Mi3bu4 Sip5ti4) is a nature reserve located in San Tin near Yuen Long in Hong Kong. it is within Yuen Long District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Painted stork</span> Species of bird

The painted stork is a large wader in the stork family. It is found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia south of the Himalayas in the Indian Subcontinent and extending into Southeast Asia. Their distinctive pink tertial feathers of the adults give them their name. They forage in flocks in shallow waters along rivers or lakes. They immerse their half open beaks in water and sweep them from side to side and snap up their prey of small fish that are sensed by touch. As they wade along they also stir the water with their feet to flush hiding fish. They nest colonially in trees, often along with other waterbirds. The only sounds they produce are weak moans or bill clattering at the nest. They are not migratory and only make short distance movements in some parts of their range in response to changes in weather or food availability or for breeding. Like other storks, they are often seen soaring on thermals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-headed ibis</span> Species of bird

The black-headed ibis, also known as the Oriental white ibis, Indian white ibis, and black-necked ibis, is a species of wading bird of the ibis family Threskiornithidae which breeds in the South and Southeast Asia from India to the west and as far east as Japan. It is the only native ibis species in its range that has an overall white plumage with a black neck and head. The down-curved beak and legs are also black. Though often referred to as a wetland species, the black-headed ibis forages in a range of natural and man-made habitats. This species of ibis nests only during the rainy season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roseate spoonbill</span> Species of bird

The roseate spoonbill is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae. It is a resident breeder in both South and North America. The roseate spoonbill's pink color is diet-derived, consisting of the carotenoid pigment canthaxanthin, like the American flamingo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant ibis</span> Species of bird

The giant ibis is a wading bird of the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. It is confined to northern Cambodia, with a few birds surviving in extreme southern Laos and a recent sighting in Yok Đôn National Park, Vietnam. It is sometimes placed in the genus Thaumatibis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scaly-sided merganser</span> Species of bird

The scaly-sided merganser or Chinese merganser is an endangered typical merganser. It lives in Manchuria and extreme Southeast Siberia, breeding in the north and wintering in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red shoveler</span> Species of bird

The red shoveler is a species of dabbling duck native to southern South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservation in Hong Kong</span>

Out of the total 1,092 km2 land in Hong Kong, three-quarters is countryside, with various landscapes including beaches, woodlands, and mountain ranges being found within the small territory. Most of Hong Kong's parks have abundant natural diversity, usually containing over 1,000 species of plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal spoonbill</span> Species of bird

The royal spoonbill also known as the black-billed spoonbill, occurs in intertidal flats and shallows of fresh and saltwater wetlands in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. It has also been recorded as a vagrant in New Caledonia. The royal spoonbill lives in wetlands and feeds on crustaceans, fish and small insects by sweeping its bill from side to side. It always flies with its head extended. Widespread throughout its large range, the royal spoonbill is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-billed spoonbill</span> Species of bird

The yellow-billed spoonbill is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae. It is native to Australia, and is a vagrant to New Zealand, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spoon-billed sandpiper</span> Species of bird

The spoon-billed sandpiper is a small wader which breeds on the coasts of the Bering Sea and winters in Southeast Asia. This species is highly threatened, and it is said that since the 1970s the breeding population has decreased significantly. By 2000, the estimated breeding population of the species was 350–500.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malagasy pond heron</span> Species of bird

The Malagasy pond heron, also known as the Madagascar pond heron or Madagascar squacco heron, is a species of heron of the family Ardeidae. They breed in Madagascar, Réunion and the Seychelles, and spend the non-breeding season in eastern mainland Africa. The population is estimated to number only 1,300–4,000 adults and the species is considered endangered.

Sipacate-Naranjo National Park is located along the Pacific coast of Escuintla in Guatemala. The park includes mangrove forests, lagoons and sandy beaches and covers an area of 20 km long and 1 km wide, stretching between the coastal towns of Sipacate and El Naranjo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batoggisem, Dansem and Zamori Islands Important Bird Area</span>

The Batoggisem, Dansem and Zamori islands Important Bird Area comprises three small islands, with a collective land area of about 50 ha, in the north-eastern Yellow Sea off the western coast of North Korea. Based on surveys conducted in 1997 and 1998, the site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports small numbers of breeding endangered black-faced spoonbills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dok-do</span>

Dok-do is a small, rocky island in the north-eastern Yellow Sea lying about 15 km off the western coast of North Korea, administered under Onchon County. It rises to a height of 85 m and has an area of 18 ha. Based on surveys conducted in 1997 and 1998, the site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports small numbers of breeding endangered black-faced spoonbills and vulnerable Chinese egrets. The island has been classified as one of the Natural monuments of North Korea, No.37. The main threat to the birds is from human disturbance.

References

  1. 1 2 3 BirdLife International (2017). "Platalea minor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T22697568A119347801. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22697568A119347801.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Swennen, C.; Yu, Y. (2005). "Food and Feeding Behavior of the Black-faced Spoonbill". Waterbirds. 28 (1): 19–27. doi:10.1675/1524-4695(2005)028[0019:fafbot]2.0.co;2. JSTOR   1522310. S2CID   84120382.
  3. 1 2 Jin, Jianjun; Wang, Zhishi; Liu, Xuemin (2008). "Valuing black-faced spoonbill conservation in Macao: A policy and contingent valuation study". Ecological Economics. 68 (1–2): 328–335. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.03.014.
  4. 1 2 "Black-faced Spoonbill population hits record high of 6,000". The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society. The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Chesser, R.Terry; Yeung, Carol K.L.; Yao, Cheng-Te; Tians, Xiu-Hua; Li Shou-Hsien (2010). "Molecular Phylogeny of the Spoonbills (Aves: Threskiornithidae) based on mitochondrial DNA". Zootaxa. 2603: 53–60. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2603.1.2.
  6. 1 2 Black-faced Spoonbill Conservation Association. (2001).Black-faced Spoonbill. Retrieved from http://www.bfsa.org.tw/en/ep02.htm
  7. ↑ Yu, Yat-tung & Wong, Chi-chun (January 2006). The International Black-faced Spoonbill Census: 6-8 January 2006 (PDF) (Report). The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society Limited. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  8. ↑ Hu, Junhua; Hu, Huijian; Jiang, Zhigang (2010). "The impacts of climate change on the wintering distribution of an endangered migratory bird". Oecologia. 164 (2): 555–565 hidotdgfhf. Bibcode:2010Oecol.164..555H. doi:10.1007/s00442-010-1732-z. PMID   20677016. S2CID   19346000.
  9. ↑ Takano, Shigeki; Henmi, Yasuhisa (2012). "The influence of constructing a Shinkansen bridge on Black-Faced Spoonbills Platalea minor Wintering in Kyushu, Japan". Ornithological Science. 11 (1): 21–28. doi:10.2326/osj.11.21. S2CID   86666935.
  10. ↑ Wei Guo-An; Lei Fu-Min; Yin Zuo-Hua; Ding Chang-Qing & Ding Wen-Ning (2005). "Nesting and Disturbance of the Black-faced Spoonbill in Liaoning Province, China". Waterbirds. 28 (4): 420–425. doi:10.1675/1524-4695(2005)28[420:nadotb]2.0.co;2. JSTOR   4132622. S2CID   86311011.
  11. ↑ "천연기념물 강화 갯벌 및 저어새 번식지 (江華 갯벌 및 저어새 繁殖地) : 국가문화유산포털 - 문화재청 Ganghwa mudflat and black-faced spoonbill breeding site". Heritage Portal : CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION (in Korean). Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "Birds Archived 9 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine ". The Shanghai Jiuduansha Wetland Nature Reserve (Shanghai), 2014.
  13. 1 2 Yih-Tsong Ueng; Jen-Jiun Perng; Jiang-Ping Wang; Jug-Hsuan Weng & Ping-Chun Lucy Hou (2007). "Diet of the Black-faced Spoonbill Wintering at Chiku Wetland in Southwestern Taiwan". Waterbirds. 30 (1): 86–91. doi:10.1675/1524-4695(2007)030[0086:dotbsw]2.0.co;2. JSTOR   4132567. S2CID   85780556.
  14. ↑ Ueng, Yih-Tsong; Wang, Jiang-Ping; Hou, Ping-Chun Lucy (2007). "Predicting Population Trends of the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor)". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 119 (2): 246–252. doi:10.1676/05-112.1. S2CID   85115854.
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