Black-shouldered Kite Reappears in Dianchi Wetlands After 3 Years

This headline reports (by reporter Zhang Yanqiong, correspondent Li Jiming). Recently, members of the Yunnan Wild Bird Association photographed 1 Black-shouldered Kite in the East Dadian wetland of Kunming's Jinning District, Dianchi Lake. This is the first time a Black-shouldered Kite has been found in Dianchi Lake since January 21, 2017, when 10 were observed. It's been 3 years since the last sighting.

It is reported that the Black-shouldered Kite is a national level two protected animal. Due to its absence in China for many years, the Chinese Red Book on Endangered Animals once declared the Black-shouldered Kite extinct in China. Its numbers are even lower than those of the national level one protected animal, the White-bellied Heron. The decline is due to habitat reduction and environmental pollution, which has brought it to the brink of extinction.

In recent years, the management of Dianchi Lake has achieved good results, providing wild birds with a good habitat and sufficient food sources. More and more wild birds are frequently visiting Dianchi Lake and surrounding wetlands.