Crested ibises are becoming increasingly common in the wetland parks of Dongying, East China's Shandong province, thanks to the successful wild release program at the Yellow River Estuary.
With support from the Shaanxi Hanzhong Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve, the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve introduced 30 crested ibises, marking the beginning of wild release efforts in the Yellow River Delta wetlands.
The focus of the acclimatization process is to strengthen the ibises' foraging and flying skills. Staff not only provided regular feedings but also placed loaches, small fish, and shrimp in ponds, encouraging the birds to forage naturally and develop their survival instincts.
For flight training, the 18-meter-high enclosure is equipped with perches and artificial trees of varying heights, giving the ibises plenty of room to stretch their wings.
After over a year of training, the ibises successfully adapted to the climate, environment, and food in the Yellow River Estuary and are in excellent health.
On Oct 17, the reserve released six crested ibises, aged four to 10 years, with a 1:1 male-to-female ratio. Four of the ibises were fitted with satellite trackers to monitor their movements in real time.
One month after their release, the ibises had found new homes in the wild. Some stayed near the reserve, while others flew to the wetland park in Shouguang, Weifang, and some even settled in a wetland park within the city.
Their range has steadily expanded, marking a historic shift from the Yangtze River Basin into the Yellow River Basin, and moving from inland areas to the coast.
