The Mythical Bird - Birding in Matsu

"Birding in Matsu" is introduced by TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL BIRDING ASSOCIATION (Chinese/English version).

Chinese Crested Tern (Thalasseus bernsteini )

"Birding in Matsu" mentioned: Chinese Crested Tern (Matsu Tern) was discovered and named by a Chinese scholar in 1863. Matsu is the only known breeding site. In winter, they migrate south to other areas, such as Nanhai (South China Sea), Philippines , Malaysia , etc. In 1937, 15 male and 6 female specimens were collected on Mu G uan Island near the port city of Qingdao in China 's Shandong Province .

For the next 63 years, records of Chinese Crested Tern (Matsu Tern) are very scanty. In 1978, there were a few records in Beidaihe , Hebei Province, China , a nd 1991 on the Huanghe (Yellow River) Delta, Dongying, and Shandong Province , China .

In recent years, total records of Chinese Crested Tern (Matsu Tern) in the Matsu Tern Reserve are: 1 in 2001, 6 in 2002, 2 in 2003, 12 in 2004, and 4 in 2005. The estimated total number of Chinese Crested Tern (Matsu Tern) is no more than 100. It is one of the most endangered and threatened bird species. Because so little is known about it, and so few have ever been seen, it is called “The mythical bird” by some.