Staff at the Xingkai Lake National Nature Reserve in Mishan City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, have recently attached unique leg bands and miniature satellite trackers to 20 oriental white stork chicks.
This initiative is part of the ongoing scientific monitoring efforts aimed at supporting the breeding and growth of the oriental white stork, a top-level protected species in China that is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The period from June to July annually represents the optimal window for monitoring the growth of oriental white stork chicks and establishing banding records at the reserve.
Jiang Zhendong, a staff member at the reserve's research and education center, said that this year, a record 129 oriental white stork breeding nests have been monitored. Starting June 29, staff selected 10 representative nests to attach bands and satellite trackers on 20 chicks to enable real-time positioning.
The leg bands and satellite tracking devices serve as a "unique ID" and provide a "dynamic monitoring profile" for each bird. This technology allows researchers to accurately track vital data, including population dynamics, migration routes, health conditions, and breeding patterns. Such information is crucial for regional conservation and research efforts.
Chinese researchers ring Oriental white stork chicks for better protection
