Crested Ibis Spotted in Nanyang for the First Time

Crested Ibis Spotted in Nanyang for the First Time

朱鹮首次现身南阳

Recently at the Tuanhe River Wetland Reserve in Neixiang county of Nanyang city, Central China's Henan province, bird photographers Li Yushan and Wang Yuezhong spotted a new species that they had never seen before: a kind of white-plumaged bird with an elongated beak and a stretched willow-shaped crown. As confirmed by Wang Qinghe, director of Nanyang Wildlife Protection Station, the bird is crested ibis, a first-class nationally protected species in China.

近日，在内乡湍河湿地保护区，拍鸟爱好者李玉山和王跃中在拍鸟过程中，惊喜地发现一种从未拍过的鸟：全身雪白，嘴很长，后枕部有长的柳叶形羽冠……经南阳市野生动植物保护站站长王庆合确认，这是国家一级保护动物朱鹮。

Crested ibis spotted in Nanyang for the first time. [Photo provided to Henan Daily]

As an ancient bird species known as the "Oriental Jewel", crested ibis usually inhabits wetlands, swamps and paddy fields, and feeds on small fish, crabs, frogs, snails and other aquatic animals. "This is the first time that the crested ibis has been spotted in Nanyang," said Wang Qinghe. Crested ibis has a high requirement for environment. Its appearance in the Tuanhe River Wetland Reserve indicates that the environment of Neixiang has been significantly improved.

据了解，朱鹮是一种古老的物种，被动物学家誉为“东方宝石”，栖息在湿地、沼泽和水田，以小鱼、蟹、蛙、螺等水生动物为食。“这是南阳首次拍到朱鹮。”王庆合告诉记者，朱鹮对生态环境要求较高，能在内乡湍河湿地保护区发现朱鹮，标志着内乡县生态环境质量明显提升。（中文来源/河南日报 记者/孟向东 曾倩 编译/何蒙贺 审校/张军平）