Rare sighting: Asian openbill storks emerge in Guizhou

Recently, a group of Asian openbill storks, which are under national second-class protection, have been spotted in Yinjiang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Guizhou Province, southwest China. This is the very first time that this rare species has been photographed in Yinjiang. Traditionally, these storks are predominantly found across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, making their appearance here all the more extraordinary.

Renowned for its unique beak shape and elegant carriage, the Asian openbill stork is hailed as the "spirit of the wetland." As large migratory birds, their migratory season spans from spring until June each year. They are highly selective about their habitats, typically opting for locations with favorable ecological environments and rich food sources as their temporary stopovers. These storks mainly dwell in rivers, marshes and coastal mudflats, subsisting primarily on mollusks while also hunting for fish, shrimp, and shellfish.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of the local authorities in recent years, the ecological environment of Yinjiang has witnessed a remarkable improvement. A number of nationally protected rare waterbirds have been spotted in the Yinjiang River, such as the little egret, mandarin duck, gray heron, common pochard, tufted duck, and Eurasian coot.