Tanghai Wetland

Tanghai Wetland

Every October, thousands of Oriental White Storks come to Tanghai Wetland to rest, staying for about a month. With only around 3,000 individuals left in the world, the Oriental White Stork is a Class I protected bird species. They breed in the northeast during summer, then migrate south with their young in autumn, eventually spending winter at Poyang Lake. Tanghai Wetland serves as an important stopover on the storks’ southern migration route. They stay here for over a month each year to replenish their energy before flying across the Bohai Sea and finally reaching Poyang Lake.

The Oriental White Stork is a large wading bird and a Class I protected animal in China, with an estimated population of 2,500 to 3,000. It often forages in marshes, wetlands, and pond edges by wading in shallow water, feeding mainly on small fish, frogs, and insects. Known for its calm yet alert nature, it moves slowly while flying or walking and often stands on one leg when resting. Breeding begins in March, with nests built in tall trees or buildings. Each clutch contains 3–5 white eggs, incubated alternately by both parents for about 30 days. They breed in central and northern Northeast China and spend winter in the lower and southern reaches of the Yangtze River.

During the breeding season, Oriental White Storks primarily inhabit open and secluded plains, grasslands, and marshes—especially areas near rivers, lakes, ponds, and irrigation ditches with sparse tree growth. Sometimes they can also be found in rice paddies far from human settlements, especially where trees grow along the water’s edge. In winter, they mainly inhabit large open lakes and marshes. Except during the breeding season when they are seen in pairs, they usually gather in groups, forming flocks of dozens or even hundreds during migration. When foraging, they walk gracefully in pairs or small groups along the water’s edge or through grasslands and marshes, pecking as they go. At rest, they often stand on one or both legs on sandy riverbanks or grassy areas, with their necks curled into an S-shape. They also enjoy soaring and circling overhead in their habitats. To take off from the ground, they first run for a distance and flap their wings vigorously to gain enough lift. While flying, their necks are stretched forward, legs and feet extend beyond the tail feathers, and the tail fans out while primary feathers spread and overlap alternately, enabling them to both flap and soar on thermal currents with graceful agility. They are naturally vigilant and timid, often avoiding human presence. If they sense an intruder, they display a series of distinctive threat behaviors: rapidly clacking their bills to produce a “click-clack-click” sound, stretching their necks upward, tilting their heads back and then downward while swaying side to side, partially opening their wings, raising their tail feathers, and constantly moving their feet.