By Peng Junjun

Recently, good news came from Jiangsu Nantong Environmental Monitoring Center —— the ‘mythical bird’ Chinese Crested Tern (Thalasseus bernsteini) was observed again. It was the second time that the species was recorded in Qidong. It was also a breakthrough in ground-based photography.

Chinese Crested Tern is a globally critically endangered bird species. It is listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). The global population is only about 200. Because of its rarity and elusive nature, it is hailed as the ‘mythical bird’.

The relationship between Qidong and the Chinese Crested Tern started on 3rd August 2024. On that day, the observation team took a photo of the species in the air above Yuantuojiao, and inferred that it was migrating and passing by. This time, it was not only a second encounter, but also a clear record of the individuals on the ground, especially the appearance of young birds. It provided more valuable first-hand data for studying their migration routes and resting habits.

【背景阅读】

“神话之鸟”再现启东圆陀角

近日，江苏省南通环境监测中心传来喜讯——再次观测到“神话之鸟”中华凤头燕鸥（Thalasseus bernsteini）。这是启东地区第二次记录到该物种，也是地面拍摄的零的突破。

中华凤头燕鸥是全球极危鸟类，被IUCN（世界自然保护联盟）列为极危级，全球种群数量仅约200只，因数量稀少、踪迹难寻，被誉为“神话之鸟”。

启东地区与中华凤头燕鸥的缘分始于2024年8月3日，当时观测团队在圆陀角空中拍摄到该物种，推测为迁徙路过；此次不仅再次相遇，更在地面清晰记录到个体，尤其是幼鸟的出现，为研究其迁徙路线、停歇习性提供了更珍贵的一手数据。