Experts warn of food shortage for crested ibis
Print Edition
THE rare crested ibis, a bird species that used to be on the brink of extinction but saw population figures recover over the past decades, is once again under pressure as new threats to its survival are emerging.
In the crested ibises’ largest natural habitat in Yangxian County of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, experts have noticed a shortage of food for the state-protected birds.
Frogs, small fish and loach from rivers, lakes and paddy fields are typically on the ibises’ menu.
As winter approaches and temperatures are dropping and bodies of water freeze, paddy fields become the main source of food for the birds. These paddy fields, however, have been left uncultivated as an increasing number of rural residents have migrated to cities for better jobs.
“The crested ibis depends heavily on human farmland. Some young birds may starve in the winter,” said Zhang Yueming, senior engineer with the crested ibis nature reserve in Hanzhong City.
The birds, with a long bill, neck and legs were once widespread in Russia, the Korean Peninsula, Japan and China, but they were believed extinct in the 1950s as their habitats were destroyed by war, natural disaster and human activities.
Experts accidentally discovered seven crested ibises in Yaojiagou Village of Yangxian County in 1981, believed to be the only wild crested ibises living in the world at that time.
Thanks to conservation and artificial breeding efforts, the population of crested ibises has grown from seven to more than 2,000, including more than 600 artificially bred birds. In addition to Shaanxi, they can also be found in Henan and Zhejiang provinces now.
However, it is difficult to spot a crested ibis in Yaojiagou at present. Zhang Lixue, a 61-year-old resident from a neighboring village, said that the number of villagers living in Yaojiagou decreased from 40 in the 1980s to the current two.
“The villagers have moved to counties or cities. Paddy fields covering an area of more than 2 hectares have been left uncultivated,” he said.
Other farmers have shifted to more cost-effective dry farming, growing different crops and altering irrigation methods. This has further reduced the area of paddy fields.
There are 83 reservoirs in Yangxian County. A 28-kilometer section of the Hanjiang River, the longest tributary of the Yangtze, also passes through the county.
Rich wetland resources should be able to provide enough food for the crested ibises. But water pollution has posed another risk.
“I once saw a bird seek food near a ditch. It circled around for a long time but had no other choices,” said Lu Baozhong, a veteran in the protection of the crested ibis.
Lu warned that these endangered birds are facing food shortage in mountains and water pollution in cities. Their population has grown over past decades, but threats to their survival remain.
Inbreeding is also an issue.
“Problems of low environmental adaptability and disease resistance exist due to a high possibility of inbreeding, which may lead to birth defects, and even worse, increased fatality rates,” said Fang Shengguo, professor specializing in wildlife with China’s Zhejiang University.
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