December 10
Dalian Zhuanghe Wetland, Liaoning Province
Discover a large number of endangered migratory birds
A national-level key protected species
Dead gulls
And before that, the Dalian area
No record of a large number of remaining gulls has been found
"The Lost Gull"
The scientific name is Larus relictus
Meaning "Lost Gull"
Name implies
This is a gull that has been forgotten by mankind
They have "white hair and black faces"
Known as the "Wetland Spirit"
But due to the deterioration of the habitat
In recent years, the population has gradually decreased
And the group of remaining gulls found this time
Reached nearly a thousand!
Can't help but be very pleasantly surprised!
A rare discovery by chance
This discovery originated
Dalian Environmental Protection Volunteer Association
One routine monitoring
Originally, they were implemented in the Zhuanghe Wetland
Ren Bird Fly Dalian Black-faced Spoonbill Monitoring and Conservation Project
I didn't expect a "chance encounter"
Nearly a thousand dead gulls
Only to see this group of "wetland elves"
Flying in the air from time to time
Chirping and circling
Sometimes it has been covered
It inhabits snowy wetlands
It is different from the color of the coat when the adult bird is in the summer feathers
The remaining gull at this time is no longer there
"White Hair Black Face"
The head feathers have changed from black to brown
Metamorphosis into white
"Overwintering form"
"Sitting on an equal footing" with giant pandas
△ Adult bird Xia Yu Picture from the network
The remaining gull, also known as "Diaoyu Langzi", is a medium-sized waterfowl, belonging to the national first-class protected animal, listed in the "IUCN" endangered red list, and the giant panda is a protection level.
The remaining gull is the latest gull bird ever discovered by humans, and was only identified by former Soviet ornithologists in 1971 as an independent species in Ala Lake in present-day Kazakhstan.
△ Non-breeding feathers (winter feathers) are pictured from the network
The total number of gulls in the world is currently about 12,000, and the coastal area of Tianjin Binhai New Area is an important wintering ground for the gulls, and the breeding grounds of the gulls are concentrated in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Russia and China, inhabiting saltwater lakes or alkaline lakes at an altitude of 1200-1500 deserts, and the number is small.
The arrival of a large number of widowed gulls
It adds life to the Zhuanghe wetland in winter
Then this group of national key protected animals
Is it to stay here for the winter?
Or just for a short stay?
Can the Zhuanghe Wetland become a wintering ground for dead gulls?
All problems are subject to change over time
Further monitoring and verification
The wintering stay of the widowed gulls is closely related to the quality of the ecological environment in the locality, and their arrival shows that the ecological environment quality and food chain system of the Zhuanghe wetland are well integrated, which is suitable for the requirements of the wintering stay of the widowed gulls.
——Liaoning Snake Island Laotieshan National Nature Reserve
Bird researcher
Wang Xiaoping
Text: "Dalian Release" Wu Yaohui
Photography: All are Chen Jiangning except for the annotations
Editor: "News Dalian" Swallow
Editor: "News Dalian" Kong Decheng Qian Yunlong
Editor-in-chief: "News Dalian" Zhang Yizhong