Dalmatian pelicans. (Photo by Li Dongming)

As the autumn migration season sets in, the Yancheng Yellow Sea wetlands have welcomed back “old friends”. According to Li Dongming, a patrol volunteer at the Yancheng World Heritage Site, the first flock of Dalmatian pelicans this year arrived at the Tiaozini wetlands in late September, a few days later than in previous years. As of October 14, Li had recorded more than 30 Dalmatian pelicans. Historically, a peak of 93 individuals was once recorded at the Tiaozini wetlands in Dongtai.

The Dalmatian pelican is a wild species under first-class state protection in China and is classified as Near Threatened (NT) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A large waterbird belonging to the family Pelecanidae in the order Pelecaniformes, it is dubbed the “aristocrat” of waterbirds for its curly nape feathers and large orange throat pouch. It has extremely stringent habitat requirements regarding water quality, hydrological conditions, food supply and minimal human disturbance, making it a vital indicator species of wetland ecological health. Around October each year, Dalmatian pelicans migrate to the Yancheng Yellow Sea wetlands to rest and recuperate. Most replenish their energy before continuing their southward migration, while a small population remains in Yancheng for the winter.

In recent years, Yancheng has continued to advance wetland ecological conservation and restoration while carrying out special bird protection campaigns, resulting in steady growth in migratory bird populations and more frequent visits by rare species. The timely arrival of the Dalmatian pelican, a “distinguished guest of the wetlands”, once again testifies to the irreplaceable value of the Yancheng Yellow Sea wetlands along the migratory bird flyway.