Baikal Teals under Second-Class State Protection First Observed in Dajiuhu Wetland

January 11, 2024, was the last day for the Administration of Shennongjia National Park to carry out the 2024 national synchronized survey of wintering waterbirds in the Dajiuhu Wetland of International Importance, with the main survey area being the Pingqian Reservoir.

When the investigators walked along the road beside the reservoir to the vicinity of Tanjiawan, they searched through binoculars and found a group of waterfowl perched on the trunks of fallen dead trees along the shore in the cove directly across the water. Through careful observation and comparison of photos taken using a telephoto lens, a total of six Mandarin Ducks (4 males and 2 females) and five Baikal Teals (3 males and 2 females) were found. Among them, the Baikal Teal is the first confirmed record in the Shennongjia area with image evidence, which updates the list of birds in Shennongjia.

The Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa), a waterbird of the genus Anas in the family Anatidae of the order Anseriformes, is included in the List of State Key Protected Wild Animals (February 5, 2021) as a second-level protected wild animal. The male has a face pattern comprising yellow, green, black, white and other colors, brown breast, long shoulder feathers, green speculum, and dark brown undertail coverts. The female has a mostly dark brown upperpart, a white loral spot behind the beak as well as dark brown flanks with light brown feather margins. A flock-oriented duck, the Baikal Teal likes to flock, especially in winter, often in large groups or with other species of ducks, which was verified by their flock with Mandarin Ducks observed this time.

During this synchronized survey of wintering waterbirds nationwide, in addition to the Baikal Teals, the investigators also recorded Golden Eagles and White-tailed Sea Eagles, which are wild birds under first-class state protection, and Mandarin Ducks, Northern Goshawks, Upland Buzzards, Eastern Buzzards, and Short-eared Owls, which are wild birds under second-class state protection.(By Ma Guofei)