A bird's-eye view of a wetland in Nantong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Nantong in Jiangsu province recorded the presence of 294 species of birds from 2021 to 2023, according to the Wildlife Habitats Along the Yangtze River and Huanghai Sea in Nantong report recently released by Nantong Environmental Monitoring Center.

Among the recorded 294 species, 14 are listed as national first-class protected species, including the spoonbill sandpiper, Saunders's Gull, and the black-faced spoonbill. There are also four "critically endangered" species on the IUCN's red list, and one newly recorded species in Jiangsu – the pelagic cormorant.

The National Forestry and Grassland Administration defines important wildlife habitats as areas where rare and endangered terrestrial wildlife can survive and breed, or an area inhabited by over 5,000 birds living in colonies.

There are eight such habitats in Nantong, namely, Xiaoyangkou, Fengli, Yangkou Port, Dongling, Tongzhou Bay, Liyashan, Haozhi Port, and Yuantuojiao wetland, according to the report.

The report also mentioned that three of the habitats have won national recognition, namely, the Rudong Xiaoyangkou Tidal Flat Wetland, Qidong Yangtze Estuary Wetland, and the Liyashan Wetland in Haimen.

In addition, the wetlands along the river and sea in Nantong also serve as important habitats for other wildlife under national protection, including elk, river deer, and leopard cat. Currently, the city is home to about 130 elks, and the number of other animals is still under observation.