A birdwatcher spotted a species with glossy feathers in a wetland park in Quanzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, on August 25, 2021, exciting many bird lovers on social media platforms. The bird was a glossy ibis, and this was only the second appearance this year for the species in the province.

The glossy ibis is a water bird with distinctive metallic glossy feathers. It inhabits wetlands, margins of lakes and rivers, and is also found in wet meadows, swamps and ponds. Though it is a "Least Concern" species on the IUCN Red List, due to wetland degradation and loss, the population is still declining in some areas.

In China, the bird is under first-class state protection. It has been spotted in places including Zhejiang, Yunnan, Guangdong and Fujian provinces, with only a small number of one or two. It was once considered to be extinct in China, but has reappeared since 2009 due to the improved environment.

Read more from the series:

Fujian: Where the tea meets the sea

East China Sea 101: A beautiful leopard with cloud-like fur

East China Sea 101: Vulnerable pink 'elves'

East China Sea 101: Xiamen City, the 'island of egrets'

East China Sea 101: The rare bird with special 'hairstyle' in Fujian

East China Sea 101: Precious and rare invertebrate

About East China Sea 101

CGTN's Tides of Change – Part II, a journey enchanted by a dynamic ocean, will lead you to the splendid East China Sea area, including Fujian and Zhejiang. The East China Sea 101 series aims to show you precious flora and fauna via livestreams.

(Cover image via VCG, designed by CGTN's Yin Yating and Li Yueyun)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)