Glossy Ibis Returns to Hengshui Lake, a Testament to Conservation Success

A glossy ibis was photographed at Hengshui Lake National Nature Reserve in Hengshui, Hebei Province, on August 6, 2025. This sighting marks a significant event, as the species is a first-class protected species in China.

Local authorities reported that the glossy ibis had been absent from the reserve for 15 years. Zhang Yuguang, deputy director of the resource protection bureau of Binhu New District in Hengshui, noted that the species had been absent from China for many years until a single individual was rediscovered in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, in January 2009. Researchers from Hengshui University recorded a single glossy ibis at Hengshui Lake in May 2010.

The recent sighting involved a local bird photographer capturing the ibis as it foraged for food in the mud and preened its feathers. The glossy ibis prefers warm lakes, rivers, and marshes, often feeding alongside other ibises and herons on aquatic insects, larvae, shrimp, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Zhang emphasized the ibis's specific habitat needs. The reappearance of the bird after such a long absence indicates an improvement in the lake's ecological environment and the success of biodiversity conservation efforts.

Hengshui Lake National Nature Reserve, situated on the East Asian-Australasian migratory bird flyway, is a well-preserved wetland ecosystem on the North China Plain. Through restoration and protection measures, the reserve has become a vital stopover, wintering, and breeding site for numerous bird species. The reserve has recorded 336 avian species, including 21 under national first-class protection.