Black-faced spoonbills spotted in mangrove forest nature reserve in SE China's Fujian

Black-faced spoonbills and white spoonbills are seen at the Zhangjiangkou national mangrove forest nature reserve in Yunxiao county, Zhangzhou city, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo/Fang Wei)

A total of 42 black-faced spoonbills were recently seen at the Zhangjiangkou national mangrove forest nature reserve in Yunxiao county, Zhangzhou city, southeast China's Fujian Province.

Known as the "giant pandas of birds,” black-faced spoonbills are under national first-class protection in China. They are one of the most endangered bird species in the world.

The Zhangjiangkou national mangrove forest nature reserve covers 2,360 hectares and boasts the most extensive and thriving natural mangrove forests north of the Tropic of Cancer in China. It is the first wetland of international importance in Fujian.

Home to 160 species of birds, the nature reserve is an important stopover site for migratory birds in the world.