In commemorating the World Migratory Bird Day on May 13, Jiangsu announced that the province is now home to 470 migratory bird species in the latest study verified by experts, two more than the figure released in 2022 and 23 more species than in 2015.

Professor Lu Changhu of Nanjing Forestry University, also author of Birds in Jiangsu Province, said any changes to the bird list need to follow strict requirements and consider factors, such as the frequency of discoveries, time and location, while the result must pass peer review.

(Photo by Zhou Chenxi)

The 2022 edition removed the great bustard (Otis tarda), which is under first-class animal protection in China and has not been observed in Hongze Lake for nearly 30 years.

In recent years, the coastal province has witnessed an increase in the number of bird species and populations thanks to a more stable ecosystem. The Yellow Sea Wetlands in Yancheng plays a crucial role as a stopover site for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which spans over more than 20 countries. It also serves as the largest wintering ground for red-crowned cranes.

Among other notable developments, the Lvshuiwan wetlands in Nanjing registered over 10,000 Baikal teals, marking the largest number of migratory birds spending their winter there. The critically endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting was spotted in Tianfu Wetlands in Kunshan City, Suqian City, and other regions. In addition, species like the Oriental stork and the spoon-billed sandpiper now choose to winter in Jiangsu for rather than migrating away.

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