Chinese crested tern, the rarest bird in the world, is witnessing a gradual population increase thanks to the nation’s efforts to preserve the endangered species.
Chinese crested tern, a bird of legend due to its rarity, has finally seen its population grow back to 102, according to an investigation done last year at two bases in east China’s Zhejiang province, after 77 adult birds were observed and gave birth to 25 babies.
According to Chen Shuihua, deputy director of Zhejiang Natural History Museum, the finding proves that the situation of the extremely endangered bird is improving.
Chinese crested tern was first discovered in 1861 in Indonesia. It comes to the east coast of China in the summer and in the winter goes to Indonesia, the Philippines, and other places. As a critically endangered species, the bird was often estimated to have a population of below 50, according to Xinhua News Agency.
The female Chinese crested tern only lays one egg at a time and can only produce one more for the year if the first egg fails. The reproduction process is often hindered by natural enemies, such as snakes, rats, and pelicans, as well as disturbances caused by typhoons and human activities, making successful reproduction difficult.
In 2003, the Zhejiang Natural History Museum started to look for the “bird of legend” in the coastal regions of Zhejiang. Some 20 birds were found in July 2004 and until 2008, experts found a baby bird born in a natural reserve in Zhejiang, marking the first time for people to discover a successful breeding of the bird.
In 2013, local authorities kicked off the first domestic experiment to artificially guide the birds to select breeding habitats in order to help the rare species. The experiment, using bird models and through methods such as bird singing and playing activities, have gradually attracted dozens of Chinese crested terns.
According to Chen, the latest finding is inspiring, but the bird needs more protection efforts to fully prevent extinction in the future. Therefore, the experiment will be further carried out to preserve the rare species.