A Siberian Crane under national first-class protection was photographed Feb 27 in Leizhu Reclamation Area, Qianwu Town, Doumen District. The species had not been recorded or photographed before in modern-day Zhuhai, but it may have been the inspiration for an intangible heritage.

Members of the Zhuhai Bird Watching Society took the pictures when they spotted a large wading bird with a dark red beak, red face pelt, light yellow irises, and pink legs. It is likely that the Siberian Crane called ancient Sanzao Town its home. By studying the life habits of the birds and imitating their expressions and movements, locals created a State Level Intangible Cultural Heritage – the Sanzao Crane Dance – in their honor during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). 

Siberian Crane [Photo by Zhang Fuqing, Hai Lan & Lin Bishan / Guanhai App]

The species, with a global population of about 4,000, is rated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered.

Highly dependent on shallow-water wetlands, the Siberian Crane breeds in the tundra within the Arctic Circle in summer and migrates through East and North China. From its juvenile to adult stages the crane's plumage turns from golden brown to snow-white with black primaries that are apparent when flying.

Most individuals spend the winter in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, while the rest of the flock heads in winter to the river's middle reaches, and Southeast and South China. Some disorientated birds can even be found in Taiwan.

With its unique geographical location west of the Pearl River Estuary and exceptional ecological environment, the Leizhu Reclamation Area attracts thousands of wild birds to its wetlands. The Zhuhai Bird Watching Society tallied 75 bird species in 28 families and 14 orders over the past six months, of which three are under national first-class protection and 10 have national second-class protection.