The International Black-faced Spoonbill Census 2009 in Vietnam

The annual International Black-faced Spoonbill Census 2009 (IBFSC 2009) coordinated by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) took place on the 9th to 11th January. In Vietnam, this voluntary event is coordinated by the BirdLife International Vietnam Programme. This year, the census was carried out at two sites in the Red River delta, Xuan Thuy and Thai Thuy. Both sites are considered Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and have prior records of Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor, which is considered Endangered at a global level.

The survey team in Vietnam recorded a total of 63 Black-faced Spoonbills, including at least twelve immature birds during the census. Particularly noteworthy were records of three birds with colour rings (bands). Investigation has revealed that these birds had been ringed on their breeding grounds in South Korea (one bird) and Russia (two birds). "These ringed birds demonstrate the relationship between the Black-faced Spoonbill wintering population in Vietnam and the populations breeding in Korea and Russia", said Nguyen Duc Tu, Wetlands Programme Officer for BirdLife International Vietnam Programme.

All of the birds were recorded at Xuan Thuy IBA, in fact no Black-faced Spoonbills have been recorded as regular winter visitor from any other sites in Vietnam in the last ten years.

Last year, a total of 2,065 Black-faced Spoonbills were counted during the IBFSC 2008. This was a historic moment, as it was the first time the known global population of this species surpassed 2,000 individuals. The population is continuing to recover from a low of just 300 individuals in 1990. Taiwan remains the most important site for wintering Black-faced Spoonbill globally, supporting over 1,000 birds, half the world population. The results of the IBFSC 2009 will be announced in the next few months.