Living on a picturesque island with the vast sea as his backdrop, 29-year-old He Jibai has embraced what many call China’s “most poetic job.” For the past three years, He has been a seabird monitor in east China’s Zhejiang Province, dedicating his life to the conservation of endangered seabirds.
Having always been passionate about nature, He previously worked in biodiversity research. In 2022, during a career break, he discovered a seabird monitoring program on one of the islands of the Nanji Archipelago National Marine Nature Reserve in Wenzhou City. Drawn by his love for wildlife, he joined the team.
“Our work revolves around tracking the entire reproductive cycle of terns,” He explains. “From their arrival and courtship to egg-laying, incubation, chick-rearing, and eventually their departure.”
He’s duties also include habitat management, controlling rodent populations to reduce predatory risks, monitoring migratory birds, and preventing avian influenza. While some might find the work monotonous, He finds it fulfilling. “It aligns perfectly with my expectations, and I thoroughly enjoy it,” he says.
The primary focus of these monitors is the Chinese crested tern, a critically endangered species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and categorized as a national first-class protected animal in China. In addition, they closely observe other protected species like the great crested tern, rare mammals such as the Eurasian otter and the East Asian finless porpoise, and several other rare seabirds.
Interest in this conservation work has surged. Last year, a recruitment drive for seabird monitors received over 6,000 applications, with only 12 individuals selected. This year, nearly 500 applications were received within four days of the announcement.
“Seabird monitors need relevant knowledge or professional experience to qualify for the job,” says Professor Fan Zhongyong of the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History and director of the Hangzhou Birds and Ecology Research Society. “Since 2017, we’ve been recruiting students in ornithology and skilled professionals to strengthen our workforce. Public recruitment also raises awareness about seabird conservation.”
April marks the peak of bird migration on the island. The team meticulously records passing migratory birds to better understand migration patterns. The firsthand data they collect is crucial for developing more scientific and effective conservation strategies.
These conservation efforts are a collaborative endeavor. The Zhejiang Museum of Natural History’s research team works closely with Jiushan Archipelago National Nature Reserve in Xiangshan County of Ningbo City, the Provincial Bird Nature Reserve of Wuzhi Mountain Archipelago in Dinghai District of Zhoushan City, and Nanji Archipelago National Marine Nature Reserve. Together, they have made significant contributions to the protection of the Chinese crested tern.
“Over the past decade, artificial attraction methods have successfully facilitated the recovery of Chinese crested tern populations,” Professor Fan notes. “The global population has grown from fewer than 50 individuals in 2010 to more than 200 by 2022.”
In recent years, over 85 percent of the world’s breeding Chinese crested terns have been found in Xiangshan and Dinghai, making these locations the most crucial global sites for the conservation and breeding of this species.
China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration reported steady growth in rare and endangered wildlife populations last year, along with improving habitats. Over 100 species, including giant pandas, Siberian tigers, Asian elephants, and Tibetan antelopes, showed stable population increases. Flocking bird species saw significant growth in both diversity and numbers.
“This success story provides a model for the global protection of endangered species, especially seabirds,” says Chen Shuihua, former director of the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History and a former leader of the Chinese crested tern research team.
