A short-tailed shearwater is observed in Nantong on June 17. [Photo/Nantong Environmental Monitoring Center of Jiangsu Province]

An observation team from the Nantong Environmental Monitoring Center of Jiangsu Province recorded an unfamiliar black bird during a false killer whale survey in the coastal waters of Rudong county, Nantong, Jiangsu province, on June 17.

Subsequent verification through specialist literature and the China Bird Report database confirmed the species as the short-tailed shearwater. This marks not only the first photographic record of the species in Nantong but also a new addition to the province's bird checklist. With this sighting, the number of bird species documented in Nantong has reached 440.

The city's coastal habitats have benefited from sustained ecological restoration efforts over the past few years, leading to increased sightings of flagship species such as false killer whales. The arrival of the short-tailed shearwater represents a significant indicator of the region's enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.