Black-faced Spoonbill

The global population of this species, based on the winter population count carried out in 1988-1990 in all known sites, was estimated at 288 individuals. As of 2006, thanks to conservation efforts over the years, the estimated global population had increased to 1,679 . The niche population of North Korea does not exceed 30 birds, which implies that there must be another colony which has not been discovered yet, and which is perhaps located in northeast China; for example, on the islands of Liaoning .

The Black-faced Spoonbill is classified as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) has the most restricted distribution of all spoonbills, and it is the only one currently regarded as endangered. Confined to the coastal areas of eastern Asia, it seems that it was once common throughout its area of distribution. Currently, it has a niche existence on only a few small rocky islands off the west coast of North Korea, with three wintering sites at Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam, as well as other places where they have been observed in migration. More

there are only 1,862 black-faced spoonbills in the world, wintering mostly in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam. At the Cigu Black-faced Spoonbill Reserve, as many as 755 of those treasured visitors have been recorded, adding to Cigu’s international fame. More

The Black-faced Spoonbill is a migratory water bird inhabiting coastal areas of East Asia . Its bare face is black from the base of its bill to its throat, and extends behind the eye. Spoonbill generally flocks along coasts, in estuaries and on shallow sand flats and forage small fish, shrimp and conch. Tsengwen River Estuary in Chigu, Tainan is considered for sheltering the largest amount of the species of Black-faced spoonbill in the world. More

The black-faced spoonbill is a relatively small wading bird with, as its name would suggest, an elongated, spoon-shaped bill. The plumage is white in colour, and the face and bill are black. During the breeding season, mature adults develop longer ... More

The black-faced spoonbill is a relatively small wading bird with, as its name would suggest, an elongated, spoon-shaped bill. The plumage is white in colour, and the face and bill are black (2). During the breeding season, mature adults develop longer crest feathers at the back of the neck, and these and the breast area become a golden yellow (4). Adult black-faced spoonbills have red eyes and yellow patches on their cheeks (5). More

Black-faced SpoonbillsThe Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) has the most restricted distribution of all spoonbills, and it is the only one currently regarded as endangered. Confined to the coastal areas of eastern Asia, it seems that it was once common throughout its area of distribution. More

OBSERVATION THE MARKED OF BLACK-FACED SPOONBILL IN TAIWAN Collin Chen E-mail: bfsa@yam,com Vice-chairman of Tainan-county Black-face spoonbill conservation association Abstract: Twenty-two black-faced spoonbills in Taiwan have been banded for observational monitoring. Of the sixteen with recorded detailed marks, at least ten were consistently observed over a two-year period at the estuary of the Tsen-Wen River. Another three spoonbills that had been banded in Hong Kong were recorded. More

Black-faced SpoonbillThe Black-faced Spoonbill is a large wading bird. Males and females look alike, with long, black bills and black facial skin. During the breeding season adult birds also develop yellow ornamental feathers on the head and breast, and yellow patches of skin under the eyes. Black-faced Spoonbills inhabit seashores, estuaries, and areas near fish farms. More

Black-faced Spoonbill numbers up again as ... More

recently as 1999, Black-faced Spoonbill was classified by BirdLife on behalf of the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered. At the BirdLife World Conference in Rosenheim, Germany in 1994, BirdLife Partners agreed on the first International Action Plan for the species, coordinated by the Chinese Wild Bird Federation (BirdLife in Taiwan). Implementation workshops were then held in Beijing (1996) and Tokyo (1997). More

The International Black-faced Spoonbill Census 2009 in Vietnam The annual International Black-faced Spoonbill Census 2009 (IBFSC 2009) coordinated by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) took place on the 9th to 11th January. In Vietnam, this voluntary event is coordinated by the BirdLife International Vietnam Programme. This year, the census was carried out at two sites in the Red River delta, Xuan Thuy and Thai Thuy. More

A Korean-banded Black-faced Spoonbill in Taiwan - On 17th October, Weiting LIU of the Taiwan Waders Study Group passed on the following information, which had been placed on the Wild Bird Society of Taiwan’s website by Dr Fang: A Black-faced Spoonbill colour-ringed in Korea by Dr KIM Soo-Il, Professor of Ornithology at the Korea National University of Education, has been sighted in Taiwan. More

the Black-faced spoonbill was a rare migrant, and only recorded in the tidal flats of Manila Bay but not since 1914. In more recent history, the only other record was of 3 birds in Batanes from October to December, 2001. In December 2003, visiting Canadian birder Todd Pepper along with local guide, Arnel Mallari reported seeing 3 Black-faced spoonbills at the Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan. To read Todd Pepper's complete report please click here. More

Black-faced spoonbill season expected to begin = TAIPEI, Taiwan - The first flocks of the rare black-faced spoonbills are expected to arrive in the southern county of Tainan by the end of September, formally kicking off the black-faced spoonbill season in Taiwan, an ornithology group said yesterday. More

The Black-faced Spoonbill is legally recognized as natural monument #205 in South Korea. References - * BirdLife International (2006). Platalea minor. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. More

In recent years, the black-faced spoonbill has become something of a celebrity in parts of East Asia, especially Taiwan and Hong Kong. But that wasn't always the case. Until about 13 years ago, most people didn't realize these birds were teetering on the brink of extinction. More

The Black-faced spoonbill has snowy white plumage except for its black lore and long black legs. Their most outstanding characteristic is their long black beak, which resembles a Chinese lute (pi pa). Black-faced spoonbills are very similar in appearance to Egrets, which is why the later are also known as Black-faced pi pa egrets (hei mian pi lu in Chinese). More

Black-faced Spoonbill numbers up again as Action Plans are launched = HKBWS Project Admin Rank: 9Rank: 9Rank: 9 UID 26 Posts 574 Digest 0 Credits 229 NickName More

Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor is one of the well-known animals in Hong Kong. It is famous for its rarity and for being promoted as a flagship species for wetland conservation by both government departments and NGOs. In Hong Kong, two species of spoonbills are found wintering along the coast in the northwest New Territories, Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia and Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor. More

It's a funny bird! The Black-faced Spoonbill swings his neck from right to left looking for food. His winter home is in factories or farms and he's disappearing quickly! Size & Weight (Adult) Total length: 74cm Full wingspan: 110cm (Source: Doubutsu Sekai-isan* Red Data Animals Kodansha) (*World Animal Heritage) Where they live Black-faced Spoonbill lives on the Korean peninsula, China, Japan's ocean shores and tidelands. More

Black-faced Spoonbill, China, Mai-po April 2002 © Terry Hobson Black-faced Spoonbill - Black-faced Spoonbill, Japan, Kyushu February 2006 © Pete Morris/Birdquest We saw no fewer than 30 (3% of the world population) on this year's tour! Birdquest Website Send this as a postcard Black-faced Spoonbill - Black-faced Spoonbill, Japan, Kyushu February 2006 © Pete Morris/Birdquest These birds were flushed by a hunter! Birdquest Website More

Black-faced Spoonbill numbers up again as Action Plans are launched BirdLife International has compiled International Action Plans for three globally Endangered and Critically Endangered migratory waterbirds in Asia, under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species. The action plans for Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus and Chinese Crested Tern Sterna bernsteini were launched recently at the fourth meeting of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP). More

Black-faced Spoonbill numbers up again as Action Plans are launched = 10/03/2010 08:37:43old_images/s/sandpiper-spoonbilled Action plan launched for Spoon-billed sandpiper. Photo credit Peter Ericsson/Birdlife International Action plans launched to save Black-faced Spoonbill, Chinese Crested Tern & Spoon-billed Sandpiper Courtesy of Birdlife March 2010. More

The latest comprehensive survey of Black-faced Spoonbill has revealed a decrease in the number of wintering birds, with 2,041 individual birds counted compared to 2,065 in 2008. Coordinated by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (BirdLife in Hong Kong) and supported by Wild Bird Society of Japan (BirdLife in Japan), Chinese wild Bird Federation (BirdLife in Taiwan), and the Indochina Programme Office, plus input from Chinese and Korean birdwatchers. This census is one of the best examples of single-species population monitoring in Asia. More

A black-faced spoonbill is a rare bird in the world which can be seen only in East Asia. The bird breeds in some islands in the West Sea of Korea and spends winters in surrounding countries such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines. The Korea-born bird is designated in the DPRK as a precious natural product and its breeding places as sanctuaries. More