Conservation staff from the Dongsha Management Station of the Marine National Park Headquarters (hereinafter referred to as the Headquarters) discovered a rare protected bird species listed as Vulnerable (VU) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)—the Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes)—in the lagoon of Dongsha Island during bird monitoring surveys conducted between July and September this year. According to past survey reports, the Chinese Egret maintains a stable migratory population in Dongsha Atoll National Park, making it extremely valuable.
　　Also known as the Yellow-billed Egret, the Chinese Egret was once widely distributed across East Asia, including Korea, eastern coastal China, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Indonesia, with abundant populations. In the early 20th century, however, large-scale hunting driven by international demand for plumes in the feather trade caused a drastic population decline. Currently, breeding records remain only on a few small islands along the coasts of China, North and South Korea, and Russia. Due to ongoing habitat destruction, estimates from 2000 suggested that only about 2,600–3,400 individuals remained worldwide, and numbers have continued to decline. Over the past decade, the population has decreased by approximately 10–19%, indicating that the species faces severe survival threats. The IUCN has therefore classified the Chinese Egret as Vulnerable (VU), granting it international protection. In Taiwan, although the species is recorded annually during migration, sightings are rare. It is listed as a rare and valuable protected species and is safeguarded under Taiwan’s Wildlife Conservation Act.
　　Located in the northern South China Sea, Dongsha Atoll National Park occupies a geographically strategic position. Its relatively undisturbed natural environment and minimal human interference make it an ideal stopover for migratory birds during spring and autumn migrations. Since March this year, the Dongsha Management Station has independently conducted bird resource surveys. During this period, staff documented four new bird records for the park: the Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus), the Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus), the Swinhoe’s Minivet (Pericrocotus cantonensis), and the Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus). These additions have increased the total number of bird species recorded in Dongsha Atoll National Park to 240, reflecting significant achievements.
    　The Headquarters stated that previous research and this year’s surveys indicate that Chinese Egrets appear in the Dongsha Island lagoon between April and September each year as migratory birds. They typically roost and forage alongside other heron and egret species and are seldom seen alone. During this survey, conservation researchers observed Chinese Egrets feeding on small fish within the lagoon, demonstrating that the lagoon provides an excellent resting and feeding habitat for migratory and wintering birds. This further confirms Dongsha Island’s role as an important stopover site for migratory birds traveling between northern and southern regions. (Written by Contract Researcher Huang Shih-pin)