Rare pelicans spotted at Chongming's Dongtan wetland

Dalmatian Pelicans are spotted at Chongming's Dongtan wetland. [Photo by Tang Guoliang/WeChat account: shchongming]

Eighteen Dalmatian Pelicans, a first-class nationally protected species, have been recorded at the Chongming Dongtan wetland reserve in Shanghai, a key stop on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Dalmatian Pelicans. [Photo by Mai Huan/WeChat account: shchongming]

A significant finding was one bird sporting a color ring (code N171) from Mongolia. Records confirm this pelican was ringed at Khar Us Lake in Mongolia on Aug 12, 2020, by researcher Nyambayar Batbayar, highlighting a remarkable cross-border migration from the Mongolian Plateau to the Chinese coast.

Dalmatian Pelicans. [Photo by Mai Huan/WeChat account: shchongming]

The Dalmatian Pelican, with a wingspan often exceeding three meters, is an iconic flagship species for wetland ecosystems. Its global population is estimated at only 11,400-13,400, with a critically small group of about 150 individuals using the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Dalmatian Pelicans. [Photo by Mai Huan/WeChat account: shchongming]

This sighting provides valuable scientific data and underscores China's growing role in international migratory bird conservation. The stable appearance of such a group signals that the restored Dongtan wetlands are becoming a reliable sanctuary for these majestic birds on their long journeys.

Dalmatian Pelicans are spotted at Chongming's Dongtan wetland. [Photo by Tang Guoliang/WeChat account: shchongming]

Source: Official WeChat account of Shanghai Chongming Media Center at "shchongming"