Two more rare wild bird species spotted in N China's Xiong'an New Area

Dalmatian pelicans, a bird species under national first-class protection in China, fly above Baiyangdian Lake in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo/Huo Da, Que Jialiang)

Scientific observers recently discovered Dalmatian pelicans, a bird species under national first-class protection in China, and oriental plovers, a species on China’s list of terrestrial wild animals under state protection and are of important ecological, scientific and social value, in Baiyangdian Lake, Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province.

The discovery brought the total number of wild bird species found in Baiyangdian Lake to 254, which represents an increase of 48 compared to the number before the establishment of the Xiong'an New Area.

Dalmatian pelicans mainly inhabit swamps and shallow lakes. They feed on fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and amphibians, and are found in Southeast Europe, North Africa, and East Asia.

Oriental plovers are a species of migratory birds with excellent flying ability. They live in estuaries, coastal beaches, rocky valleys far from water sources, arid grasslands, cultivated lands, and gravel plains. The birds feed on crustaceans and insects, and are distributed in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and China.

A reliable source said a total of 254 wild bird species have been observed in Baiyangdian Lake. Among them, 12 species are under national first-class protection in China, and 45 species are under national second-class protection in the country.

Oriental plovers, a species on China’s list of terrestrial wild animals which are under state protection and are of important ecological, scientific and social value, are spotted in Baiyangdian Lake in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo/Tian Zengrui, Lu Zhenguang)