Pictures of a flock of black-faced spoonbills looking for food on the mud flat near Gongbei Bay in Zhuhai were recently taken by shutterbug Xie Jun, showing as many as seven of the nationally protected bird.

Xie said that these birds usually show up during high and low tides, with the closest distance to the shore being only 20 to 30 m (33 yd). The Zhuhai Bird-Watching Association's records show that it was not the first time that black-faced spoonbills have been seen in Zhuhai, with the birds previously being spotted in areas like Hengqin and Hezhou. 

Guo Geng of the Beijing Biodiversity Conservation and Research Center noted that the endangered black-faced spoonbill has certain requirements for its environment and normally appears at coastal shoal wetlands. Their appearance in Gongbei Bay is strong proof that Zhuhai boasts an excellent ecological environment. 

In recent years, Zhuhai has been prioritizing the protection of its ecological environment, paving a sustainable path that balances environmental protection and development. In addition, other rare animals, such as great knots, river lapwings, and white cranes, have been spotted in the city. 

A black-faced spoonbill catches a fish from the water

Two black-faced spoonbills play at the mudflat near Gongbei Bay [Photos by Xie Jun / WeChat account: zhuhaifabu]