Sixteen pairs of red-crowned cranes have built nests and produced offspring in the Yellow River Estuary, marking the highest number recorded since monitoring began and a 33 percent increase from 2025.
The achievement highlights the improving ecological health of the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Shandong province. Other key bird populations have also grown: Saunders's gulls formed 5,181 breeding nests, up 5 percent year-on-year, while 235 pairs of oriental storks produced 543 chicks.
Red-crowned cranes require shallow water, dense vegetation, abundant food and minimal disturbance to breed successfully. To improve the wetland environment, the reserve has replenished the water supply, controlled invasive cordgrass, created island-like nesting areas and installed artificial nest platforms.
During the 2026 water and sediment regulation project, 153 million cubic meters of water was diverted to the reserve over 16 days, helping reduce soil salinity and revive wetland vegetation.
The Yellow River Estuary is the southernmost wild breeding ground of red-crowned cranes. It is also a major global breeding ground for oriental storks and Saunders's gulls, as well as an important wintering site for Siberian cranes.
The reserve's bird species have increased from 187 to 406, supported by an integrated monitoring network using drones, video surveillance and satellite tracking.
Red-crowned cranes forage in the wetlands of the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve. [Photo/IC photo]
