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Sterna bernsteini
– Critically Endangered
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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AVES
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Order:
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CHARADRIIFORMES
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Family:
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LARIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Sterna bernsteini
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Species Authority:
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Schlegel, 1863
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Common Name/s:
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| English | — | CHINESE CRESTED-TERN |
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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CR C2a(ii); D ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2004
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Assessor/s:
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BirdLife International
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Evaluator/s:
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Crosby, M., Peet, N., Collar, N., Benstead, P. (BirdLife International Red List Authority) & Chan, S. (Wild Bird Society of Japan)
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Justification:
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This poorly known species qualifies as Critically Endangered because it is inferred to have a tiny population. It is likely to be affected by the loss of coastal wetlands, and possibly egg-collection for food.
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History:
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| 1988 | - | Threatened (Collar and Andrew 1988) |
| 1994 | - | Critically Endangered (Collar, Crosby and Stattersfield 1994) |
| 2000 | - | Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2000) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Sterna bernsteini is an exceptionally poorly-known species, recorded only on the eastern coast of China, in Hebei, Shandong, Fujian and Guangdong and, outside the breeding season, on Halmahera, Indonesia, in Sarawak, Malaysia, and in Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines. In June-July 1937, a total of 21 specimens were collected on islets off the coast of Shandong, where it was presumably breeding, indicating that it was locally not uncommon in the past. The only recent records were from China, in Hebei in 1978 and Shandong in 1991, with a possible record from peninsular Thailand in 1980. However, in summer 2000 four adults and four chicks were found amongst a colony of other tern species on an island off the east coast of mainland China (but administered by Taipei). Birds failed to breed the next year but were present again in 20021. Raised awareness in Taiwan (China) has resulted in several records of 1-2 birds using the Pachang River outside the breeding season since 19982. Its current population is unknown, but is presumably very small given the paucity of recent records.
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Countries:
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Native:
China; Indonesia; Malaysia; Philippines; Taiwan, Province of China; Thailand
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Population
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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Records indicate that it is exclusively coastal and pelagic in distribution. In China and Taiwan, it has been found on offshore islets (breeding) and tidal mudflats.
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System:
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Terrestrial; Marine
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Threats
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Threats:
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No specific threats are known, although many coastal wetlands in its presumed breeding range in eastern China are affected by large-scale development projects and, in China, seabirds are exploited for food.
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Conservation measures underway:
The newly discovered colony and surrounding islands were declared a national nature reserve in 2000. The most recent sighting in China was from Huanghe Sanjiaozhou Nature Reserve in Shandong and there are several other protected areas along the Chinese coast where it could potentially occur, at least on passage. In Thailand, it is nationally protected, and the locality where it was historically recorded is protected as the Laem Talumphuk Non-Hunting Area.
Conservation measures proposed:
Conduct surveys at its former localities, both in the presumed breeding and non-breeding ranges, and at other potentially suitable breeding sites in China. Take immediate conservation measures to safeguard any sites found, especially nesting colonies. Upgrade Huanghe Sanjiaozhou Nature Reserve to national reserve status and strengthen protection there.
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