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BIRDING TAIWAN

Chinese Crested Tern Thalasseus bernsteini seen in Matsu

by Rob Butler

Canada

The Chinese crested tern is one of the rarest birds in the world that until recently, was thought to be extinct. But thanks to Taiwan’s Executive Yuan’s Council of Agriculture and Lienchiang County Government who commissioned the Taiwan Wild Bird Federation to make a film in the Matsu Tern Conservation Area, film-maker Liang Chiei-de and Chang Shou-Hua re-discovered the tern in 2000. Their discovery was confirmed by Liu Hsiao-ru, a research fellow at Academia Sinica's Insitute of Zoology who pointed out how few sightings there had been for over a century. Since the first discovery in 2000, a very small number of Chinese crested terns have been seen each year in the Matsu Island archipelago about 180 kilometers northwest of Taiwan.

On 13 August 2005, I joined an expedition funded by the Taiwanese Government Information Office to aid in the search for the tern in the Matsu region. Accompanying me on board was the Chair of the International Taiwan Birding Association Simon Liao, and co-discoverer of the tern Chang Shou-Hua, Legislator Yang Chang-Tse, Senior Information Officer Jason Yuan, and Vice-chair of the International Taiwan Birding Association Lin Maw Nan. Our expectations were not high after two typhoons had passed Taiwan just prior to our arrival and August was at the tail end of the season for terns in the Matsu region.

We inspected some outer rocks battered by surf where many Greater crested terns and a few Bridled terns were present. But it was near impossible to use binoculars while being tossed about in the turbulent waters. We decided to move to sheltered waters where a few terns had been seen flying about a small island. As we approached the shore, Greater crested terns began to fly past the boat giving us excellent views of their large yellow bills and dark grey mantles. On the island, we noticed a flock of about 30 terns gathered on a large boulder. As if by providence, Chang Shou-Hua was the first to spot a Chinese crested tern among a group of Greater crested terns. We moved closer for a better look. The pale mantle of the Chinese crested tern was the most evident feature from a distance and as we got closer, the yellow-orange bill with a black tip came into view. I took several photos of the Chinese crested tern amidst the Greater crested terns. There was infectious jubilation among all on board that carried on into the evening over a celebratory banquet feast encouraged on with copious amounts of Matsu’s famous wine.

When I returned home, I examined the photographs closely which revealed two Chinese crested terns were present. The photos show clearly the black tipped bill and pearl grey mantle. A tiny white spot at the tip of the bill is evident in other photos and video we have examined but it is not certain that all individuals carry this spot and at all times of year.

Del Hoyo, Elliott and Sargatal (Handbook of the birds of the world, Lynx Edicions, 1996) indicate that very little is known about this species distribution, status and behaviour. They postulate that the tern occurs in estuaries, which is supported by our observations - the Matsu Islands are located near the mouth of the Ming River in the Peoples Republic of China.

August 2006 update

History of the Matsu Tern (Chinese Crested Tern, Sterna bernsteini), in the Matsu Tern Reserve, Matsu Archipelago, Taiwan

2000: 12 – 4 pairs, each with 1 chick;

2001: 1 – adult, disappeared;

2002: 9 – 3 pairs, each with 1 chick;

2003: 2 – adults, breeding success unknown;

2004: 15 – 6 breeding pairs on two islands; 3 chicks observed;

2005: 2 – adults, breeding success unknown;

2006: 8 – 2 pairs, 3 chicks, 1 yearling

TIBA, August 2006

To visit the Matsu Islands or learn more about the Chinese crested tern in Taiwan, contact Simon Liao.

「國際台灣觀鳥學會」網站 9月1日報導

賞鳥到台灣 Dr.Robert Butler

（Birding Taiwan）

黑嘴端鳳頭燕鷗是目前世界上最稀有的鳥類之一，被認為已經絕種。幸虧台灣「行政院農業委員會」委請「中華民國野鳥學會」拍攝馬祖保育區影片，電影製作人梁皆得（Liang Chiei-de）和張壽華（Chang Zen Hua）於2002年再次發現黑嘴端鳳頭燕鷗。中央研究院動物研究所研究員劉小如証實他們的發現。劉小如指出，這是一世紀以來不尋常的事。自從2000年首度發現以來，每年在離台灣西北大約180公里的馬祖列島，會看到極少數的黑嘴端鳳頭燕鷗。

2005年8月13日，我參與「行政院新聞局」贊助的考察，協助研究馬祖地區的黑嘴端鳳頭燕鷗。在船上陪我同行的有「國際台灣觀鳥學會」理事長廖世卿、電影製片人兼共同發現黑嘴端鳳頭燕鷗的張壽華、「台灣國際觀鳥學會」暨立法委員楊宗哲、「行政院新聞局」一等秘書袁佐鈿，以及「台灣國際觀鳥學會」副理事長林茂男。

在我們抵達前，兩個颱風才剛剛掃過台灣，我們並沒有太高的期待。並且，八月是馬祖地區燕鷗季節的尾端。

我們觀察被海浪撞擊，許多鳳頭燕鷗和少數白眉燕鷗出現的外層岩石。但是，在浪中搖晃，幾乎不能使用望遠鏡。我們決定移動到曾看過有少數燕鷗飛行的小島水域。當我們靠近海岸時，鳳頭燕鷗開始飛過船隻，我們可以清楚看到大而黃的嘴喙，以及黑灰色軀體。在島上，我們看到約30隻燕鷗聚集在一個大圓石上。這是天意，張壽華是在一群鳳頭燕鷗中，第一個看到黑嘴端鳳頭燕鷗的人。我們靠近以便看的更清楚。

從遠處看，黑嘴端鳳頭燕鷗蒼白的身體是最明顯的特色，當我們更接近時，帶有黑色尖尖的橘黃嘴喙進入我們的眼簾。我拍了許多黑嘴端鳳頭燕鷗在一群鳳頭燕鷗中的照片。大家在船上興高彩烈的氣氛，帶到晚間慶功宴，喝下大量的馬祖名酒。

當我回到家之後，我仔細檢查照片，有兩隻黑嘴端鳳頭燕鷗就在其中。照片清楚秀出黑色尖尖的嘴喙和珍珠灰的軀體。在我們檢查的其他照片和錄影帶中，有很清楚的嘴喙頂端小白點，但不確定所有黑嘴端鳳頭燕鷗整年都有這點。

戴南（Del Hoyo）,艾略特（Ellott）和沙格特（Sargatal）（1996年Lynx Edicions出版之「世界鳥類手冊」）指出，很少人知道這種特殊鳥類分佈、狀態及行為。他們假定燕鷗出現在河口，這是我們觀察所支持的論點－馬祖列島接近中華人民共和國閩江河口。