Rare sighting of marked spoon-billed sandpiper on migration

Spoon-billed sandpiper spotted on migration 5000 kilometres from nesting location

September 2013. A rare sighting of a marked spoon-billed sandpiper on migration has been reported from Rudong mudflats north of Shanghai. The critically endangered bird was identified by a lime green plastic flag on its leg marked ‘01' that was attached by scientists from Birds Russia on its breeding grounds this summer. 

Major contribution to the survival of his species

Conservationists know that this bird ‘Lime 01' fathered six fledglings this summer - three that were hand-reared by conservationists and three that he raised himself - which is 10 times the average for the species.

In all, this summer sixteen hand-reared spoon-billed sandpiper fledglings and eight adults were marked with uniquely inscribed plastic leg flags. Birdwatchers are being asked to report all sightings of spoon-billed sandpipers.

Extremely important stop over site for the spoon-billed sandpiper

Coordinator of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force, Christoph Zöckler said: "The Rudong mudflats are an extremely important stop over site for the spoon-billed sandpiper to rest and feed and it is very exciting news that our Russian breeding birds have been sighted there. Unfortunately these mudflats, like much coastal wetland along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, are threatened by the development. Alongside illegal trapping and hunting, it has pushed these birds to the edge."

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