14 thoughts on “Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor)”
As mentioned in the email, the Black-faced Spoonbill is planned to be reclassified from its current Endangered status to Least Concern. This is because the investigation results indicate that over the past 30 years (covering 3 generations), the population has consistently been on the rise, increasing from 535 individuals in 1997 to 6,162 individuals in 2022, representing a growth of approximately 1,150%, and there is currently no evidence suggesting a decline in population numbers.
However, we don’t think it’s recommended to change the status. Here are four reasons:
Firstly, the population of the Black-faced Spoonbill is still relatively low. According to the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society survey, the current population of Black-faced Spoonbills has reached more than 6,000 individuals, while the populations of the other five spoonbill species classified as Least Concern have remained consistently above 10,000 individuals (https://wpe.wetlands.org).
Secondly, the distribution range of the Black-faced Spoonbill is still relatively small. Their breeding range is limited to the Korean Peninsula and surrounding coastal areas, while their wintering range, although expanding, still mainly concentrates in Taiwan (Chen, et al., 2021), making them vulnerable to future climate or habitat changes.
Thirdly, the population of Black-faced Spoonbill has experienced a bottleneck period, resulting in low genetic diversity (Li, et al., 2022). This renders them poorly equipped to withstand future risks.
Lastly, the stopover sites for the migration of Black-faced Spoonbills often intersect with rapidly developing coastal areas (Chen, et al., 2021), and their population recovery heavily relies on current conservation efforts (Cano-Alonso, et al., 2023). Additionally, the population has not yet fully recovered. Therefore, adjusting their status to least concern may likely affect the intensity of their conservation efforts, hence the need to maintain a higher conservation status to ensure habitat conservation.
The species is proposed to be brought down from Endangered to Least Concern. Conservation efforts have helped with improvement of population size and provision of human-made habitats that increase roosting and foraging grounds. These improvements certainly mandate the down listing of the species. However, the species is better included under Vulnerable rather than Least Concern for the following reasons which have been brought to my notice by members of the IUCN Stork, Ibis and Spoonbill Specialist Group.
National management plans are being developed for the species, and these include potentially providing additional roosting and foraging sites. However, it is not clear if these new sites will indeed be developed for Black-faced Spoonbills. Until these sites materialize, and careful observations can provide evidence of the positively impacts of such sites, benefits cannot be assumed at this time.
The species continues to have low genetic diversity, which requires constant surveillance, and a severe down listing with the current low diversity would be incorrect.
A lot of the natural habitats of the Black-faced Spoonbill is shared with other species such as Grey Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper. Red List revisions for these shared species are proposed to be upgraded due to threats to these habitats (among other reasons). To maintain consistency across the Red List status revisions, the Black-faced Spoonbill should also be considered at threat due to the dangers these habitats and sites face.
The range of the Black-faced Spoonbill is restricted and the population is estimated to be 6,000 or so at this time. There are other species such as the Sarus Crane with much wider distribution range and a much higher estimated population that are considered as Vulnerable in the Red List by BirdLife. Changing the Red List status of the Black-faced Spoonbill that is far more fragile relative to species such as Sarus Cranes in various ways is inconsistent use of the Red List and I ask that the down listing be done to Vulnerable to ensure consistency within the Red List.
The breeding range of the Black-faced Spoonbill is still restricted to the the Yellow sea area. This is a “all eggs in one basket” precarious scenario that warrants a higher Red List status than Least Concern to reflect the actual status of the Black-faced Spoonbill. A further down listing in the future can be considered if and when the species expands its distribution range, as with other large waterbirds such as ibises and storks.
The primary foraging habitat is mudflats that are facing severe and multiple threats across the distribution range of the Black-faced Spoonbills. Development is the primary threat, and the current conservation of the species has been possible only due to interventions of governments. However, it is not known if governments can increase conservation efforts at the cost of increasing development to benefit human populations. The threat to the species should therefore be considered high, and provision of the Least Concern status would be incorrect and based on assumptions that seem unlikely to pan out.
Gopi Sundar
Co-chair, IUCN SSC Storks, Ibis and Spoonbills Specialist Group
The reasons why the classification of black-faced spoonbills should not be reclassified based on an increase in their population numbers are as follows:
1) Regional Concentration: The majority of the black-faced spoonbill breeding population is concentrated in the mudflats of the west coast of Korea, making the fate of the species highly dependent on threats to this area. When a species is concentrated in a specific area, issues in that region can have a serious impact on the entire species, necessitating ongoing monitoring and protection of the region.
2) Vulnerability of Breeding Sites: Some of the black-faced spoonbill breeding sites(25% of whole population) are very vulnerable, being devoid of vegetation and similar in size to coastal reefs. These areas are highly sensitive to external threats such as predator invasions, and without proper management, could severely impact the population.
Ex 1: In 2019, at Namdong Reservoir in Incheon, due to a raccoon invasion, only 15 chicks successfully fledged from 230 nests (3% of the expected fledging rate). Subsequently, the Ministry of Environment installed predator-proof fences – in 2022, holes in the fence led to the predation of about 40 nests – the National Institute of Ecology repaired the fence.
Ex 2: In 2023, all 120 pairs attempting to breed on the artificial island of Yeongjongjeouhdo failed to breed due to invasions by eagle owls and rats.
Ex 3: There was an instance where the breeding population halved from 111 nests to 48 nests at a breeding site called Maedo when the supply of nesting resources was halted for two years.
3) Importance of Protective Measures: Protective measures such as predator prevention fences and the provision of nesting resources play a crucial role in maintaining the black-faced spoonbill population. For instance, the installation and maintenance of predator fences significantly improved breeding success rates, and without such measures, there is a high likelihood of a sharp decrease in breeding success.
4) Reduction in Conservation Efforts: Downgrading the conservation status could lead to reduced awareness and support for conservation, potentially decreasing activities related to the protection of black-faced spoonbills, and ultimately negatively affecting the survival of the species in the long term.
Therefore, adjusting the conservation status of a species based on an increase in population numbers, without considering actual threats and the need for protection, could be an inadequate decision. A more comprehensive assessment is needed, along with continued support and implementation of sustainable conservation measures. If actual conservation efforts at the breeding sites are reduced, it is evident that the black-faced spoonbill population will decrease. Therefore, it seems advisable to postpone reclassification their conservation status until the population reaches the minimum viable population of 10,000 individuals.
Black-faced Spoonbills have suffered from suspected botulism in both Hong Kong and Taiwan (Chou et al. 2008. J Wildl Dis 44: 781-784; Yin et al. Taiwan Vet J 42: https://doi.org/10.1142/S1682648515720051), With increasing numbers of birds at wintering sites and a warming climate the risk of infection potentially increases.
Spartina encroachment is mentioned as a potential threat for this species as well as a number of waders in the EAAF – a further consideration is the potential ecological and hydrological impacts of the current Spartina eradication programmes being implement by coastal provinces in the PRC – it is very uncertain what these might be.
I am writing with regards to the suggested change of the status of the Black-faced Spoonbill from Endangered to Least Concern. Based on the situation on the ground in Taiwan, such a dramatic change would be premature. Listing the species Least Concern would not be considering certain pressures which the population faces and only considering the rise in population numbers which are by no means a stable indicator.
In Taiwan, location of the largest wintering population, numbers have gone down for the first time since 2018 according to the 2024 Taiwan Black-faced Spoonbill Census. One of the main threats here comes in the form of habitat loss posed by green energy projects. Currently, areas like Chiku and Sicao in Tainan City, core habitat areas for wintering Black-faced Spoonbill, are under pressure to be converted into solar panel farms under a green energy push. We and like-minded groups are doing our best to help protect these areas and having the species remain protected internationally greatly aids in those efforts. Taiwan is not alone in this. Wintering, staging, and breeding areas in China, Korea, and other areas are also under development pressures, especially the coastal areas critical to the species. In Tainan, the Black-faced Spoonbill also shares habitat with other species considered globally threatened by the IUCN such as Great Knot, Red Knot, Saunders’s Gull, Spoonbilled Sandpiper, and Nordmann’s Greenshank. It serves as an umbrella species so when its habitat is able to be protected, other species are also able to see the benefits. To make it LC, when the other species whose habitat is would put this habitat in danger and therefore also threaten other species as well. Also, in this year many more birds were found to have botulism poisoning than in the past to wintering seasons. More monitoring and efforts need to be made to understand the cause of this problem and how to address it properly. Yet should it persist it, coupled with habitat loss, the success of the past could quickly begin to go backwards.
Dr. Scott Lin of the Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute, when the species was assessed for the 2016 Red List of the Birds of Taiwan, it was assessed as Nationally Near Threatened. However, due to increasing threat in Taiwan posed by habitat loss and disease such as botulism poisoning, in the 2024 Taiwan Red List it was reclassified under the conservation status of Nationally Vulnerable under the criteria “C1”.
The assessment also mentions the increase in numbers since the 1990s. Although this is true that does not necessarily mean the population is to be considered safe yet. Dr. Li Shou-hsien (2021) of National Taiwan Normal University and his team have discussed how there was a bottleneck genetically regarding the BFSP considering the entire population was reduced to under 300 individuals by 1988. Although there are now nearly 7,000, the genetic diversity has not yet reached a point to consider the population safe. As is mentioned by others, a safe population would be one totaling around 10,000 individuals, as is seen in other spoonbill species. Furthermore, in recent surveys, the distribution range has been growing to areas like the Philippines. This is good as the distribution range for the species is still not large. Also, the should such a dramatic reassessment be accepted, national governments will not be compelled to help protect these areas since it is deemed already safe.
It is for these reasons, we strongly suggest that the species not be moved to Least Concern but to Vulnerable, if downlisting is to take place.
Comments from the posts above already provide some information from various places and a general overview of the situation. Therefore, I will make this comment by summarizing some of the information.
Population Growth of the Black-faced Spoonbill
The annual winter census provides an excellent dataset that is highly comparable in both time and spatial scales. The dataset clearly shows population growth. We must applaud the birdwatchers, conservationists and site managers in the East Asia region who have worked on this species on research, wetland management, public education, and advocating for better laws and policies for the conservation of the Black-faced Spoonbill and its habitat. The Black-faced Spoonbill has shown resilience and has recovered from very low numbers. Therefore, we believe that the chance of the Black-faced Spoonbill becoming extinct is smaller than in the past. With the total population now recorded at around 7,000 individuals, the adult ratio might be approximately 50 to 60% of the entire population. Therefore, the estimated number of adult individuals falls within the range of 3,500 to 4,200.
Current Threats
Despite the population increase, there are still many threats to the Black-faced Spoonbill and its habitat. This species still tends to congregate in large flocks, but only in a few places during both the breeding and wintering periods. This makes them highly vulnerable to threats from development plans and avian diseases. In Hong Kong, the government has initiated a development plan that is located next to the middle part of BirdLife’s Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) (code HK001). This plan involves filling nearly 100 hectares of wetland within the IBA boundary. [Link to the source: https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/en/hkbws/work/monitor/pcengagement/stt-ozp-en%5D. This sets a very bad precedent for opening up this wetland for development. In Macao, the number of Black-faced Spoonbills dropped to a new low in the census since 2001, despite the government’s efforts to manage a wetland specifically for the conservation of the species. However, they continue to develop their tourism and entertainment business, which is adjacent to the wetland. Taiwan also faces a threat from a government policy that encourages the setup of solar panels in the wetlands as part of green energy projects. In Japan, many sites where wintering Black-faced Spoonbills are found are not well protected by law, but environmental education for the public plays a major role in the conservation of the species, as the birds are rarely disturbed by people. In Korea, there are still some threats to the breeding habitats, and conservation management still needs to be implemented on the ground. The Black-faced Spoonbill is mainly found breeding in the Yellow Sea area, where almost 100% of mature individuals can be found in one subpopulation. In fact, there could be more threats at other sites of the Black-faced Spoonbill, particularly along the very long coast of China.
From a broader perspective that affects the entire population and region, the genetic diversity of this species is still very low, which makes it vulnerable to avian diseases. Climate change can have a negative impact on the suitability of habitat in all coastal wetland areas currently utilized by the Black-faced Spoonbills. This threat may be hidden by the observed population growth (Pickett et al. 2017). Therefore, population reduction is projected and suspected in the future.
Conclusion
Therefore, we believe that the Black-faced Spoonbill still faces various severe threats that can have unfavourable outcomes for both its short-term and long-term survival, despite the current long-term population growth. In fact, some of these unfavourable conditions are also a result of population growth, such as inadequate suitable habitats and low genetic diversity. In the short term, the survival of the Black-faced Spoonbill depends on conservation actions, such as appropriate habitat management in various sites, the establishment of more nature reserves and wetland parks, and strengthening law enforcement for the protection of national endangered species and wetland conservation. All of these considerations lead us to conclude that the Black-faced Spoonbill can still be considered globally threatened, as it meets the thresholds of projected, inferred, or suspected population reduction in the future, with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and projected or inferred continuing declines, and with 100% of mature individuals in the largest subpopulation. Finally, we believe that the Black-faced Spoonbill can achieve full recovery if conservation actions and measures can be coordinated, continued, and implemented in the long term (Cano-Alonso et al., 2023).
Cano-Alonso, L. S., Grace, M. K., Yu, Y.-t., & Chan, S. (2023). Reversing the Decline in a Threatened Species: The Black-Faced Spoonbill Platalea minor. Diversity, 15(2), 217.
Pickett,E. J., Chan, M., Cheng, W., et al. (2018). Cryptic and cumulative impacts on the wintering habitat of the endangered black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) risk its long-term viability. Environmental Conservation, 45(2), 147-154. doi:10.1017/S0376892917000340
Dr. Kisup Lee
Chair, East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership Black-faced Spoonbill Working Group
Yat-tung Yu
Coordinator, East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership Black-faced Spoonbill Working Group
According to the International Black-faced Spoonbills Census(IBFSC) in January 2024, the total number of BFSs in Taiwan has decreased. Our biweekly simultaneous monitoring starting from October last year shows that the winter population has dispersed since November. The lot of fish ponds used in winter have al been developed into the places for solar panels. The rainfall throughout the winter has been low, which has aggravated the decrease in water volume in fish ponds and channels. This situation has lasted for two years, resulting in a significant increase in cases of botulinum toxin poisoning in Dingshan, Tucheng in Tainan and Yong’an in Kaohsiung have occurred one after another. Due to climate change and habitat loss, the poisoning epidemic will expand in scale and severity with the increase in the number of the BFSs in various parts of Asia. Therefore, lowering the Red List status of the BFSs because the small increase in the number, it will have a serious impact on the recent conservation work. The situation in Taiwan has fully reflected the impact faced by the BFSs, so I recommend to maintain the current conservation status.
Wild Bird Society of Tainan Executive Director Philip Kuo
We, Team SPOON, aim to create a society where people care about the world where black spoonbills fly peacefully and pass it on to the next generation. We have a network on the flyway with about 500 members, mainly in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and other areas where the black-faced spoonbills live.
Certainly, the population of black-faced spoonbills continues to increase, however considering what we have seen and heard during our visits to various parts of the flyway as below, we think it is difficult to agree with the change of category to low concern.
Our member, who participated in the last International Black-faced Spoonbill Census in Tainan,Taiwan, reported that “Obviously, more wetlands were being developed to install solar panels or for some other purpose.” Plans to install large-scale solar panels across vast swaths of wetlands in Taiwan, the largest wintering ground for BFSs, are well-known. The concentration of birds in one wetland, caused by the reduction of wetlands, also can lead to an increase in botulism outbreaks. Mr.Kuo, the Wild Bird Society of Tainan（台南市野鳥學會）, told us that in addition to the decrease in wetlands, the lack of rainfall due to recent climate change has led to a significant increase in the incidence of botulism in waterfowl in Taiwan.
In fact, despite the global rise in the population of BFSs, the International Black-faced Spoonbill Census 2024 in Taiwan showed a decrease in the number of BFSs compared to the previous year.
Additionally, in Namdong Reservoir, South Korea, a critical breeding site, over 60 chicks perished in 2019 and 2022 due to predation by wild raccoons, leading to substantial breeding failures. While various countermeasures have been implemented, the issue remains unsolved.
Furthermore, on Ganghwa Island in South Korea, an abandoned aquaculture pond that serves as a resting area for Black-faced Spoonbills is currently receiving no proper management and could be sold for development at any time.
We are strongly concerned that the list status change to “Low Concern” under these circumstances may cause a decline in people’s interest and a slowdown in conservation activities. We suppose that even if the population of BFSs has increased, it will be difficult to determine whether they have truly escaped extinction without a careful study of the conditions of wetlands around the flyway.
Based on the above, we are anxious about the list status change to low concern.
SAVE International urges BirdLife International not to downlist the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) from “Endangered” to “Least Concern”. Although we are grateful for the inspiring recovery of this species over the last 30 years, such a downlisting would be too drastic and would lead to a rapid destruction of coastal wetland habitat.
Since 1997, SAVE International has led or otherwise supported several campaigns in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and China that led to the spoonbills’ recovery, such as stopping proposed projects that would have damaged coastal wetlands, engaging with governments to enact legal protection for threatened habitat, and empowering local communities to devise and accomplish their own alternative plans for development.
We do not deny the numerical basis given for the proposed downlisting to “Least Concern”, but such a downlisting could take away an important resource that local communities have had (and continue to have) in protecting their fragile wetlands and other ecosystems. Over the past 25 years, the visibility of the Black-faced Spoonbill as an “umbrella species” has been key to the success of SAVE and our local partners in protecting critical habitat and defeating environmentally unsound proposals in multiple nations, even in areas that had formal legal protection. These proposals have included a new commercial airport, a relocated military base, theme-park-like developments and mass tourism on rural islands, and expansive surface-mounted photovoltaic arrays. Even though these proposals would have affected multiple threatened or endangered species, the Black-faced Spoonbill was the species that rallied the public response in a way that other species could not have done.
Population numbers alone do not indicate the health or resilience of the species. Even though the latest annual counts put the population of Black-faced Spoonbills at more than 6,000, we do not know whether they are more or less concentrated at habitat sites than they were before the population crash in the 1980s, because of the absence of baseline data. Groups of spoonbills have suffered die-offs from botulism at winter roosting sites in Taiwan; these sites are still few in number and crowded enough to provide conditions for past and possible future outbreaks. If additional sites are protected, however, spoonbills and other wetland species will be able to move into them, reducing overcrowding.
We recognize and celebrate the ongoing recovery of Platalea minor, and we suggest continued caution.
(submitted by Derek Schubert, President, SAVE International)
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 3 May 2024. We will now analyse and interpret all information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 3 May 2024, when discussions will re-open.
We thank all contributors for their helpful comments above; those documenting small reductions at some sites, and the slowing of population recovery are particularly helpful. First, it is the role of BirdLife International to periodically complete Red List assessments de novo in accordance with the IUCN Red List Guidelines, otherwise our assessments will not be accepted by the IUCN Red List Unit (we must submit assessments for their verification). For a species to be listed as Threatened, it must therefore meet the numeric thresholds of the Guidelines (or approach them for Near Threatened). There is no allowance for species to be maintained at a higher threat category because of funding risks.
Nonetheless, the information provided above has added evidence that species experts believe the species will decline in the near-/mid-term future because of habitat pressures along the Yellow Sea coastline, which has precedent for causing declines in other species using it (even if the current trend for Black-faced Spoonbill is positive).
If we suspect that the species will decline in the near-future, notwithstanding current population increases, because the population remains <10,000 mature individuals then the species approaches thresholds for listing under Criterion C2a(ii).
It is not, however, possible to list the species as threatened or Near Threatened under Criterion A3, as there is no data from which to accurately project or suspect plausible rates of future reduction (e.g., it is not possible, e.g., to determine whether it will decline by 20-30%, 30-40%, 40-50% etc.). An assessment doing so would be too speculative, and would not be accepted by the IUCN Red List Unit. Under Criterion A, Black-faced Spoonbill qualifies as Least Concern.
Based on available information therefore, our preliminary proposal for the 2024 Red List would be to list Black-faced Spoonbill as Near Threatened approaching thresholds for threatened under Criteria C2a(ii).
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 13 May 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2024 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2024, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
We, Japan Black-faced Spoonbill Network, strongly concerned to downlist the status of Black-faced Spoonbill.
1. We do not have secured wintering grounds as much in Japan. These areas include estuaries, tidal flats, river islands, reservoirs, irrigation cannels, retention basins, creeks, fishery ports, and artificial lands, which are neighboring human populated areas. These has limited area each and constantly exposed to the risk of development plans. For example, the wintering ground in Hakata Bay was lost because of an infrastructure plan and BFSs were forced to disperse to the surrounding estuaries and reservoirs. Moreover, a wintering ground in Hikawa estuary was lost by another infrastructure development. We’ve been setting up decoys in neighboring areas and monitoring the wintering population every winter for more than 10 years to secure a winter habitat for BFSs.
2. Although BFS winters in a variety of western regions in Japan, almost a half of population winters in Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas. In 2023, avian influenza was detected among those BFSs wintering in Ariake Sea. Wintering population declined by about 100 individuals (about 15% of wintering population) compared to the previous year, suggesting the threat posed by infectious diseases. The consistent population of recent years are supported by our volunteers’ contributions including rescues and monitoring of BFSs, and 600-700 individuals in Japan should not ensure the secured and continuous recovery of BSF population.
3. A lot of BFS’s wintering grounds overlaps with human populated area and they suffer from problems posed by human wastes. For example, there has been several reports of BFSs’ legs and bills getting tangled with fishing nets and lines, damaging their wings and bills and causing mortality because they cannot capture food on their own anymore. Especially in Okinawa Island in 2021-2022 winter, there was 9 cases of BFS injuries and casualties, and more cases were reported from other areas in Japan as well.
4. Therefore, considering the current situation mentioned above, we do not think BFS can be downlisted to LC/NT and the population will continue increase in the future without concerns. We believe BFS population are still threatened by various causes and we need to continue to monitor the population and habitats, collaborating with stakeholders around the world.
[Please note my previous comments are in some wrong format, better to delete it and use this one.]
This recent proposal for changes to the Red List status of the Black-faced Spoonbills seems to inadequately address the current threats faced by the species.
The IUCN Red List criteria A3 allows for assessments to be made considering projected, inferred, or suspected future population reductions based on a decline in habitat quality. While the Black-faced Spoonbill population is increasing, many local experts have identified threats to their habitats and future of these habitats cannot be promising. These habitats have seen little improvement, and in some areas, destruction has already begun (e.g., in Hong Kong (https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/en/hkbws/work/monitor/pcengagement/stt-ozp-en) and Taiwan, where solar panels are being installed in fishpond areas for green energy policies, the loss of the Yellow Sea intertidal flat, and the predicted rise of sea level threatening to inundate most of the coastal wetland in the near future (Picket et al. 2018)). High congregation of this species in only a few sites make them highly vulnerable to avian disease and water pollution. Despite the growth in the spoonbill population, this re-assessment should not solely consider the population; the impact on habitats has not been fully accounted for in this re-assessment.
The suggestion to apply Red List criteria C2aii to the Black-faced Spoonbill, which meets the threshold of fewer than 10,000 mature individuals with 100% of mature individual in one sub-population and applies to situations of observed, estimated, projected, or inferred continuing decline, appears inconsistent. This criterion has been used here, but it is suggested that it cannot be applied to criteria A3.
When discussing the re-assessment and changes to the Red List status of a species, we must exercise extreme caution when downlisting a species. This is particularly true for species with many existing conservation activities and more planned for the future. Downlisting, especially when done in more than one step, requires thorough discussion with stakeholders. Downlisting is not merely a process of applying the IUCN Red List criteria when data is available; the consequences of downlisting a species can be complex, involving individual scientists and conservationists, NGOs working on the species, and government departments responsible for protecting the species. The process of downlisting requires more discussion and preparation to ensure its correctness and to avoid potentially damaging results. It also allows all stakeholders to participate in the discussion.
The Black-faced Spoonbill currently serves as an umbrella species, with many sites gaining protection and management due to the spoonbill’s status. I understand Red List status is not a measure of prioritising conservation actions but an assessment of extinction risk. However, premature downlisting could impact not only this species but also many other wetland species co-existing in the same sites, such as various ducks and shorebirds. Therefore, the consequences on species conservation and site protection need to be fully addressed before making a decision, beyond just considering the data.
From Taiwan, we agree with our colleague Yat-Tung Yu that the recent Red List proposal changes seem inadequate in the face of current threats to the species. In further discussion with the head of Taiwan’s Red List for birds, Dr. Lin Ruey-shing, he said the following:
Significant threats to their wintering habitats are evident in Taiwan, and there has been a noticeable trend of stagnation or decline in their numbers this year. These threats are likely to intensify over the next decade. With the population under 10,000, a projected decline of at least 10% within the next 10 years or three generations seems plausible. Consequently, the Taiwan Red List has designated the Black-faced Spoonbill as Vulnerable. Nonetheless, considering the overall population is still increasing, conclusive evidence of specific threats causing a continual decline outside of Taiwan would be required to justify this classification further. Specifically, conclusive evidence of specific threats causing a continual decline outside of Taiwan in near future (10 years or 3 generations). Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a thorough evaluation of whether the Black-faced Spoonbill faces a ‘projected continuing decline of at least 10% within 10 years or three generations’ (C1) across its entire range. Until then it would be best to have it listed as Vulnerable.
Scott Pursner
Director of International Affairs
Taiwan Wild Bird Federation
As mentioned in the email, the Black-faced Spoonbill is planned to be reclassified from its current Endangered status to Least Concern. This is because the investigation results indicate that over the past 30 years (covering 3 generations), the population has consistently been on the rise, increasing from 535 individuals in 1997 to 6,162 individuals in 2022, representing a growth of approximately 1,150%, and there is currently no evidence suggesting a decline in population numbers.
However, we don’t think it’s recommended to change the status. Here are four reasons:
Firstly, the population of the Black-faced Spoonbill is still relatively low. According to the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society survey, the current population of Black-faced Spoonbills has reached more than 6,000 individuals, while the populations of the other five spoonbill species classified as Least Concern have remained consistently above 10,000 individuals (https://wpe.wetlands.org).
Secondly, the distribution range of the Black-faced Spoonbill is still relatively small. Their breeding range is limited to the Korean Peninsula and surrounding coastal areas, while their wintering range, although expanding, still mainly concentrates in Taiwan (Chen, et al., 2021), making them vulnerable to future climate or habitat changes.
Thirdly, the population of Black-faced Spoonbill has experienced a bottleneck period, resulting in low genetic diversity (Li, et al., 2022). This renders them poorly equipped to withstand future risks.
Lastly, the stopover sites for the migration of Black-faced Spoonbills often intersect with rapidly developing coastal areas (Chen, et al., 2021), and their population recovery heavily relies on current conservation efforts (Cano-Alonso, et al., 2023). Additionally, the population has not yet fully recovered. Therefore, adjusting their status to least concern may likely affect the intensity of their conservation efforts, hence the need to maintain a higher conservation status to ensure habitat conservation.
The species is proposed to be brought down from Endangered to Least Concern. Conservation efforts have helped with improvement of population size and provision of human-made habitats that increase roosting and foraging grounds. These improvements certainly mandate the down listing of the species. However, the species is better included under Vulnerable rather than Least Concern for the following reasons which have been brought to my notice by members of the IUCN Stork, Ibis and Spoonbill Specialist Group.
National management plans are being developed for the species, and these include potentially providing additional roosting and foraging sites. However, it is not clear if these new sites will indeed be developed for Black-faced Spoonbills. Until these sites materialize, and careful observations can provide evidence of the positively impacts of such sites, benefits cannot be assumed at this time.
The species continues to have low genetic diversity, which requires constant surveillance, and a severe down listing with the current low diversity would be incorrect.
A lot of the natural habitats of the Black-faced Spoonbill is shared with other species such as Grey Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper. Red List revisions for these shared species are proposed to be upgraded due to threats to these habitats (among other reasons). To maintain consistency across the Red List status revisions, the Black-faced Spoonbill should also be considered at threat due to the dangers these habitats and sites face.
The range of the Black-faced Spoonbill is restricted and the population is estimated to be 6,000 or so at this time. There are other species such as the Sarus Crane with much wider distribution range and a much higher estimated population that are considered as Vulnerable in the Red List by BirdLife. Changing the Red List status of the Black-faced Spoonbill that is far more fragile relative to species such as Sarus Cranes in various ways is inconsistent use of the Red List and I ask that the down listing be done to Vulnerable to ensure consistency within the Red List.
The breeding range of the Black-faced Spoonbill is still restricted to the the Yellow sea area. This is a “all eggs in one basket” precarious scenario that warrants a higher Red List status than Least Concern to reflect the actual status of the Black-faced Spoonbill. A further down listing in the future can be considered if and when the species expands its distribution range, as with other large waterbirds such as ibises and storks.
The primary foraging habitat is mudflats that are facing severe and multiple threats across the distribution range of the Black-faced Spoonbills. Development is the primary threat, and the current conservation of the species has been possible only due to interventions of governments. However, it is not known if governments can increase conservation efforts at the cost of increasing development to benefit human populations. The threat to the species should therefore be considered high, and provision of the Least Concern status would be incorrect and based on assumptions that seem unlikely to pan out.
Gopi Sundar
Co-chair, IUCN SSC Storks, Ibis and Spoonbills Specialist Group
The reasons why the classification of black-faced spoonbills should not be reclassified based on an increase in their population numbers are as follows:
1) Regional Concentration: The majority of the black-faced spoonbill breeding population is concentrated in the mudflats of the west coast of Korea, making the fate of the species highly dependent on threats to this area. When a species is concentrated in a specific area, issues in that region can have a serious impact on the entire species, necessitating ongoing monitoring and protection of the region.
2) Vulnerability of Breeding Sites: Some of the black-faced spoonbill breeding sites(25% of whole population) are very vulnerable, being devoid of vegetation and similar in size to coastal reefs. These areas are highly sensitive to external threats such as predator invasions, and without proper management, could severely impact the population.
Ex 1: In 2019, at Namdong Reservoir in Incheon, due to a raccoon invasion, only 15 chicks successfully fledged from 230 nests (3% of the expected fledging rate). Subsequently, the Ministry of Environment installed predator-proof fences – in 2022, holes in the fence led to the predation of about 40 nests – the National Institute of Ecology repaired the fence.
Ex 2: In 2023, all 120 pairs attempting to breed on the artificial island of Yeongjongjeouhdo failed to breed due to invasions by eagle owls and rats.
Ex 3: There was an instance where the breeding population halved from 111 nests to 48 nests at a breeding site called Maedo when the supply of nesting resources was halted for two years.
3) Importance of Protective Measures: Protective measures such as predator prevention fences and the provision of nesting resources play a crucial role in maintaining the black-faced spoonbill population. For instance, the installation and maintenance of predator fences significantly improved breeding success rates, and without such measures, there is a high likelihood of a sharp decrease in breeding success.
4) Reduction in Conservation Efforts: Downgrading the conservation status could lead to reduced awareness and support for conservation, potentially decreasing activities related to the protection of black-faced spoonbills, and ultimately negatively affecting the survival of the species in the long term.
Therefore, adjusting the conservation status of a species based on an increase in population numbers, without considering actual threats and the need for protection, could be an inadequate decision. A more comprehensive assessment is needed, along with continued support and implementation of sustainable conservation measures. If actual conservation efforts at the breeding sites are reduced, it is evident that the black-faced spoonbill population will decrease. Therefore, it seems advisable to postpone reclassification their conservation status until the population reaches the minimum viable population of 10,000 individuals.
Black-faced Spoonbills have suffered from suspected botulism in both Hong Kong and Taiwan (Chou et al. 2008. J Wildl Dis 44: 781-784; Yin et al. Taiwan Vet J 42: https://doi.org/10.1142/S1682648515720051), With increasing numbers of birds at wintering sites and a warming climate the risk of infection potentially increases.
Numbers in Deep Bay (Hong Kong SAR/Shenzhen SEZ) are not increasing in line with the overall population and the current development of the San Tin “Technopole” in Hong Kong looks set to destroy important wintering habitat – see: https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/en/hkbws/work/endangered-species/bfs-en/bfs-census-2024-en
Spartina encroachment is mentioned as a potential threat for this species as well as a number of waders in the EAAF – a further consideration is the potential ecological and hydrological impacts of the current Spartina eradication programmes being implement by coastal provinces in the PRC – it is very uncertain what these might be.
I am writing with regards to the suggested change of the status of the Black-faced Spoonbill from Endangered to Least Concern. Based on the situation on the ground in Taiwan, such a dramatic change would be premature. Listing the species Least Concern would not be considering certain pressures which the population faces and only considering the rise in population numbers which are by no means a stable indicator.
In Taiwan, location of the largest wintering population, numbers have gone down for the first time since 2018 according to the 2024 Taiwan Black-faced Spoonbill Census. One of the main threats here comes in the form of habitat loss posed by green energy projects. Currently, areas like Chiku and Sicao in Tainan City, core habitat areas for wintering Black-faced Spoonbill, are under pressure to be converted into solar panel farms under a green energy push. We and like-minded groups are doing our best to help protect these areas and having the species remain protected internationally greatly aids in those efforts. Taiwan is not alone in this. Wintering, staging, and breeding areas in China, Korea, and other areas are also under development pressures, especially the coastal areas critical to the species. In Tainan, the Black-faced Spoonbill also shares habitat with other species considered globally threatened by the IUCN such as Great Knot, Red Knot, Saunders’s Gull, Spoonbilled Sandpiper, and Nordmann’s Greenshank. It serves as an umbrella species so when its habitat is able to be protected, other species are also able to see the benefits. To make it LC, when the other species whose habitat is would put this habitat in danger and therefore also threaten other species as well. Also, in this year many more birds were found to have botulism poisoning than in the past to wintering seasons. More monitoring and efforts need to be made to understand the cause of this problem and how to address it properly. Yet should it persist it, coupled with habitat loss, the success of the past could quickly begin to go backwards.
Dr. Scott Lin of the Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute, when the species was assessed for the 2016 Red List of the Birds of Taiwan, it was assessed as Nationally Near Threatened. However, due to increasing threat in Taiwan posed by habitat loss and disease such as botulism poisoning, in the 2024 Taiwan Red List it was reclassified under the conservation status of Nationally Vulnerable under the criteria “C1”.
The assessment also mentions the increase in numbers since the 1990s. Although this is true that does not necessarily mean the population is to be considered safe yet. Dr. Li Shou-hsien (2021) of National Taiwan Normal University and his team have discussed how there was a bottleneck genetically regarding the BFSP considering the entire population was reduced to under 300 individuals by 1988. Although there are now nearly 7,000, the genetic diversity has not yet reached a point to consider the population safe. As is mentioned by others, a safe population would be one totaling around 10,000 individuals, as is seen in other spoonbill species. Furthermore, in recent surveys, the distribution range has been growing to areas like the Philippines. This is good as the distribution range for the species is still not large. Also, the should such a dramatic reassessment be accepted, national governments will not be compelled to help protect these areas since it is deemed already safe.
It is for these reasons, we strongly suggest that the species not be moved to Least Concern but to Vulnerable, if downlisting is to take place.
Comments from the posts above already provide some information from various places and a general overview of the situation. Therefore, I will make this comment by summarizing some of the information.
Population Growth of the Black-faced Spoonbill
The annual winter census provides an excellent dataset that is highly comparable in both time and spatial scales. The dataset clearly shows population growth. We must applaud the birdwatchers, conservationists and site managers in the East Asia region who have worked on this species on research, wetland management, public education, and advocating for better laws and policies for the conservation of the Black-faced Spoonbill and its habitat. The Black-faced Spoonbill has shown resilience and has recovered from very low numbers. Therefore, we believe that the chance of the Black-faced Spoonbill becoming extinct is smaller than in the past. With the total population now recorded at around 7,000 individuals, the adult ratio might be approximately 50 to 60% of the entire population. Therefore, the estimated number of adult individuals falls within the range of 3,500 to 4,200.
Current Threats
Despite the population increase, there are still many threats to the Black-faced Spoonbill and its habitat. This species still tends to congregate in large flocks, but only in a few places during both the breeding and wintering periods. This makes them highly vulnerable to threats from development plans and avian diseases. In Hong Kong, the government has initiated a development plan that is located next to the middle part of BirdLife’s Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) (code HK001). This plan involves filling nearly 100 hectares of wetland within the IBA boundary. [Link to the source: https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/en/hkbws/work/monitor/pcengagement/stt-ozp-en%5D. This sets a very bad precedent for opening up this wetland for development. In Macao, the number of Black-faced Spoonbills dropped to a new low in the census since 2001, despite the government’s efforts to manage a wetland specifically for the conservation of the species. However, they continue to develop their tourism and entertainment business, which is adjacent to the wetland. Taiwan also faces a threat from a government policy that encourages the setup of solar panels in the wetlands as part of green energy projects. In Japan, many sites where wintering Black-faced Spoonbills are found are not well protected by law, but environmental education for the public plays a major role in the conservation of the species, as the birds are rarely disturbed by people. In Korea, there are still some threats to the breeding habitats, and conservation management still needs to be implemented on the ground. The Black-faced Spoonbill is mainly found breeding in the Yellow Sea area, where almost 100% of mature individuals can be found in one subpopulation. In fact, there could be more threats at other sites of the Black-faced Spoonbill, particularly along the very long coast of China.
From a broader perspective that affects the entire population and region, the genetic diversity of this species is still very low, which makes it vulnerable to avian diseases. Climate change can have a negative impact on the suitability of habitat in all coastal wetland areas currently utilized by the Black-faced Spoonbills. This threat may be hidden by the observed population growth (Pickett et al. 2017). Therefore, population reduction is projected and suspected in the future.
Conclusion
Therefore, we believe that the Black-faced Spoonbill still faces various severe threats that can have unfavourable outcomes for both its short-term and long-term survival, despite the current long-term population growth. In fact, some of these unfavourable conditions are also a result of population growth, such as inadequate suitable habitats and low genetic diversity. In the short term, the survival of the Black-faced Spoonbill depends on conservation actions, such as appropriate habitat management in various sites, the establishment of more nature reserves and wetland parks, and strengthening law enforcement for the protection of national endangered species and wetland conservation. All of these considerations lead us to conclude that the Black-faced Spoonbill can still be considered globally threatened, as it meets the thresholds of projected, inferred, or suspected population reduction in the future, with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and projected or inferred continuing declines, and with 100% of mature individuals in the largest subpopulation. Finally, we believe that the Black-faced Spoonbill can achieve full recovery if conservation actions and measures can be coordinated, continued, and implemented in the long term (Cano-Alonso et al., 2023).
Cano-Alonso, L. S., Grace, M. K., Yu, Y.-t., & Chan, S. (2023). Reversing the Decline in a Threatened Species: The Black-Faced Spoonbill Platalea minor. Diversity, 15(2), 217.
Pickett,E. J., Chan, M., Cheng, W., et al. (2018). Cryptic and cumulative impacts on the wintering habitat of the endangered black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) risk its long-term viability. Environmental Conservation, 45(2), 147-154. doi:10.1017/S0376892917000340
Dr. Kisup Lee
Chair, East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership Black-faced Spoonbill Working Group
Yat-tung Yu
Coordinator, East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership Black-faced Spoonbill Working Group
According to the International Black-faced Spoonbills Census(IBFSC) in January 2024, the total number of BFSs in Taiwan has decreased. Our biweekly simultaneous monitoring starting from October last year shows that the winter population has dispersed since November. The lot of fish ponds used in winter have al been developed into the places for solar panels. The rainfall throughout the winter has been low, which has aggravated the decrease in water volume in fish ponds and channels. This situation has lasted for two years, resulting in a significant increase in cases of botulinum toxin poisoning in Dingshan, Tucheng in Tainan and Yong’an in Kaohsiung have occurred one after another. Due to climate change and habitat loss, the poisoning epidemic will expand in scale and severity with the increase in the number of the BFSs in various parts of Asia. Therefore, lowering the Red List status of the BFSs because the small increase in the number, it will have a serious impact on the recent conservation work. The situation in Taiwan has fully reflected the impact faced by the BFSs, so I recommend to maintain the current conservation status.
Wild Bird Society of Tainan Executive Director Philip Kuo
We, Team SPOON, aim to create a society where people care about the world where black spoonbills fly peacefully and pass it on to the next generation. We have a network on the flyway with about 500 members, mainly in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and other areas where the black-faced spoonbills live.
Certainly, the population of black-faced spoonbills continues to increase, however considering what we have seen and heard during our visits to various parts of the flyway as below, we think it is difficult to agree with the change of category to low concern.
Our member, who participated in the last International Black-faced Spoonbill Census in Tainan,Taiwan, reported that “Obviously, more wetlands were being developed to install solar panels or for some other purpose.” Plans to install large-scale solar panels across vast swaths of wetlands in Taiwan, the largest wintering ground for BFSs, are well-known. The concentration of birds in one wetland, caused by the reduction of wetlands, also can lead to an increase in botulism outbreaks. Mr.Kuo, the Wild Bird Society of Tainan（台南市野鳥學會）, told us that in addition to the decrease in wetlands, the lack of rainfall due to recent climate change has led to a significant increase in the incidence of botulism in waterfowl in Taiwan.
In fact, despite the global rise in the population of BFSs, the International Black-faced Spoonbill Census 2024 in Taiwan showed a decrease in the number of BFSs compared to the previous year.
Additionally, in Namdong Reservoir, South Korea, a critical breeding site, over 60 chicks perished in 2019 and 2022 due to predation by wild raccoons, leading to substantial breeding failures. While various countermeasures have been implemented, the issue remains unsolved.
Furthermore, on Ganghwa Island in South Korea, an abandoned aquaculture pond that serves as a resting area for Black-faced Spoonbills is currently receiving no proper management and could be sold for development at any time.
We are strongly concerned that the list status change to “Low Concern” under these circumstances may cause a decline in people’s interest and a slowdown in conservation activities. We suppose that even if the population of BFSs has increased, it will be difficult to determine whether they have truly escaped extinction without a careful study of the conditions of wetlands around the flyway.
Based on the above, we are anxious about the list status change to low concern.
SAVE International urges BirdLife International not to downlist the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) from “Endangered” to “Least Concern”. Although we are grateful for the inspiring recovery of this species over the last 30 years, such a downlisting would be too drastic and would lead to a rapid destruction of coastal wetland habitat.
Since 1997, SAVE International has led or otherwise supported several campaigns in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and China that led to the spoonbills’ recovery, such as stopping proposed projects that would have damaged coastal wetlands, engaging with governments to enact legal protection for threatened habitat, and empowering local communities to devise and accomplish their own alternative plans for development.
We do not deny the numerical basis given for the proposed downlisting to “Least Concern”, but such a downlisting could take away an important resource that local communities have had (and continue to have) in protecting their fragile wetlands and other ecosystems. Over the past 25 years, the visibility of the Black-faced Spoonbill as an “umbrella species” has been key to the success of SAVE and our local partners in protecting critical habitat and defeating environmentally unsound proposals in multiple nations, even in areas that had formal legal protection. These proposals have included a new commercial airport, a relocated military base, theme-park-like developments and mass tourism on rural islands, and expansive surface-mounted photovoltaic arrays. Even though these proposals would have affected multiple threatened or endangered species, the Black-faced Spoonbill was the species that rallied the public response in a way that other species could not have done.
Population numbers alone do not indicate the health or resilience of the species. Even though the latest annual counts put the population of Black-faced Spoonbills at more than 6,000, we do not know whether they are more or less concentrated at habitat sites than they were before the population crash in the 1980s, because of the absence of baseline data. Groups of spoonbills have suffered die-offs from botulism at winter roosting sites in Taiwan; these sites are still few in number and crowded enough to provide conditions for past and possible future outbreaks. If additional sites are protected, however, spoonbills and other wetland species will be able to move into them, reducing overcrowding.
We recognize and celebrate the ongoing recovery of Platalea minor, and we suggest continued caution.
(submitted by Derek Schubert, President, SAVE International)
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 3 May 2024. We will now analyse and interpret all information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 3 May 2024, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
We thank all contributors for their helpful comments above; those documenting small reductions at some sites, and the slowing of population recovery are particularly helpful. First, it is the role of BirdLife International to periodically complete Red List assessments de novo in accordance with the IUCN Red List Guidelines, otherwise our assessments will not be accepted by the IUCN Red List Unit (we must submit assessments for their verification). For a species to be listed as Threatened, it must therefore meet the numeric thresholds of the Guidelines (or approach them for Near Threatened). There is no allowance for species to be maintained at a higher threat category because of funding risks.
Nonetheless, the information provided above has added evidence that species experts believe the species will decline in the near-/mid-term future because of habitat pressures along the Yellow Sea coastline, which has precedent for causing declines in other species using it (even if the current trend for Black-faced Spoonbill is positive).
If we suspect that the species will decline in the near-future, notwithstanding current population increases, because the population remains <10,000 mature individuals then the species approaches thresholds for listing under Criterion C2a(ii).
It is not, however, possible to list the species as threatened or Near Threatened under Criterion A3, as there is no data from which to accurately project or suspect plausible rates of future reduction (e.g., it is not possible, e.g., to determine whether it will decline by 20-30%, 30-40%, 40-50% etc.). An assessment doing so would be too speculative, and would not be accepted by the IUCN Red List Unit. Under Criterion A, Black-faced Spoonbill qualifies as Least Concern.
Based on available information therefore, our preliminary proposal for the 2024 Red List would be to list Black-faced Spoonbill as Near Threatened approaching thresholds for threatened under Criteria C2a(ii).
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 13 May 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2024 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2024, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
We, Japan Black-faced Spoonbill Network, strongly concerned to downlist the status of Black-faced Spoonbill.
1. We do not have secured wintering grounds as much in Japan. These areas include estuaries, tidal flats, river islands, reservoirs, irrigation cannels, retention basins, creeks, fishery ports, and artificial lands, which are neighboring human populated areas. These has limited area each and constantly exposed to the risk of development plans. For example, the wintering ground in Hakata Bay was lost because of an infrastructure plan and BFSs were forced to disperse to the surrounding estuaries and reservoirs. Moreover, a wintering ground in Hikawa estuary was lost by another infrastructure development. We’ve been setting up decoys in neighboring areas and monitoring the wintering population every winter for more than 10 years to secure a winter habitat for BFSs.
2. Although BFS winters in a variety of western regions in Japan, almost a half of population winters in Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas. In 2023, avian influenza was detected among those BFSs wintering in Ariake Sea. Wintering population declined by about 100 individuals (about 15% of wintering population) compared to the previous year, suggesting the threat posed by infectious diseases. The consistent population of recent years are supported by our volunteers’ contributions including rescues and monitoring of BFSs, and 600-700 individuals in Japan should not ensure the secured and continuous recovery of BSF population.
3. A lot of BFS’s wintering grounds overlaps with human populated area and they suffer from problems posed by human wastes. For example, there has been several reports of BFSs’ legs and bills getting tangled with fishing nets and lines, damaging their wings and bills and causing mortality because they cannot capture food on their own anymore. Especially in Okinawa Island in 2021-2022 winter, there was 9 cases of BFS injuries and casualties, and more cases were reported from other areas in Japan as well.
4. Therefore, considering the current situation mentioned above, we do not think BFS can be downlisted to LC/NT and the population will continue increase in the future without concerns. We believe BFS population are still threatened by various causes and we need to continue to monitor the population and habitats, collaborating with stakeholders around the world.
[Please note my previous comments are in some wrong format, better to delete it and use this one.]
This recent proposal for changes to the Red List status of the Black-faced Spoonbills seems to inadequately address the current threats faced by the species.
The IUCN Red List criteria A3 allows for assessments to be made considering projected, inferred, or suspected future population reductions based on a decline in habitat quality. While the Black-faced Spoonbill population is increasing, many local experts have identified threats to their habitats and future of these habitats cannot be promising. These habitats have seen little improvement, and in some areas, destruction has already begun (e.g., in Hong Kong (https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/en/hkbws/work/monitor/pcengagement/stt-ozp-en) and Taiwan, where solar panels are being installed in fishpond areas for green energy policies, the loss of the Yellow Sea intertidal flat, and the predicted rise of sea level threatening to inundate most of the coastal wetland in the near future (Picket et al. 2018)). High congregation of this species in only a few sites make them highly vulnerable to avian disease and water pollution. Despite the growth in the spoonbill population, this re-assessment should not solely consider the population; the impact on habitats has not been fully accounted for in this re-assessment.
The suggestion to apply Red List criteria C2aii to the Black-faced Spoonbill, which meets the threshold of fewer than 10,000 mature individuals with 100% of mature individual in one sub-population and applies to situations of observed, estimated, projected, or inferred continuing decline, appears inconsistent. This criterion has been used here, but it is suggested that it cannot be applied to criteria A3.
When discussing the re-assessment and changes to the Red List status of a species, we must exercise extreme caution when downlisting a species. This is particularly true for species with many existing conservation activities and more planned for the future. Downlisting, especially when done in more than one step, requires thorough discussion with stakeholders. Downlisting is not merely a process of applying the IUCN Red List criteria when data is available; the consequences of downlisting a species can be complex, involving individual scientists and conservationists, NGOs working on the species, and government departments responsible for protecting the species. The process of downlisting requires more discussion and preparation to ensure its correctness and to avoid potentially damaging results. It also allows all stakeholders to participate in the discussion.
The Black-faced Spoonbill currently serves as an umbrella species, with many sites gaining protection and management due to the spoonbill’s status. I understand Red List status is not a measure of prioritising conservation actions but an assessment of extinction risk. However, premature downlisting could impact not only this species but also many other wetland species co-existing in the same sites, such as various ducks and shorebirds. Therefore, the consequences on species conservation and site protection need to be fully addressed before making a decision, beyond just considering the data.
From Taiwan, we agree with our colleague Yat-Tung Yu that the recent Red List proposal changes seem inadequate in the face of current threats to the species. In further discussion with the head of Taiwan’s Red List for birds, Dr. Lin Ruey-shing, he said the following:
Significant threats to their wintering habitats are evident in Taiwan, and there has been a noticeable trend of stagnation or decline in their numbers this year. These threats are likely to intensify over the next decade. With the population under 10,000, a projected decline of at least 10% within the next 10 years or three generations seems plausible. Consequently, the Taiwan Red List has designated the Black-faced Spoonbill as Vulnerable. Nonetheless, considering the overall population is still increasing, conclusive evidence of specific threats causing a continual decline outside of Taiwan would be required to justify this classification further. Specifically, conclusive evidence of specific threats causing a continual decline outside of Taiwan in near future (10 years or 3 generations). Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a thorough evaluation of whether the Black-faced Spoonbill faces a ‘projected continuing decline of at least 10% within 10 years or three generations’ (C1) across its entire range. Until then it would be best to have it listed as Vulnerable.
Scott Pursner
Director of International Affairs
Taiwan Wild Bird Federation