During the May Day holiday, seven glossy ibises—Class I national protected wild animals—were spotted in the Yancheng Yellow Sea Wetland, setting a new record for the largest single flock ever recorded in Jiangsu Province.
Photo by Xu Xing
On the afternoon of May 5, during routine bird monitoring, volunteer Xu Xing identified seven glossy ibises near Dafeng Seawall Road. Known as the “Gem of Birds” and “Wetland Rainbow”, this rare species is a close relative of the crested ibis and an important indicator of ecological quality.
Photo by Xu Xing
Brief Discovery History in Yancheng
May 2020: First official record of 5 glossy ibises in Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve.
October 2025: One individual observed at Tiaozini Wetland.
May 2026: Seven glossy ibises recorded, the largest group in Jiangsu to date.
Photo by Zhou Chenxi