Black-faced Spoonbill

The global population of this species is likely based on the winter population count which was carried out in 1988–1990 in all known sites. This count estimated about only 288 individuals. As of 2006, following sustained conservation efforts, the estimated global population had increased to 1,679; the 2008 census resulted in an estimated total count of 2,065 individuals; and a 2010 census reported 2,346. The known localised population of North Korea is not known to exceed 30 birds. However, there is believed to be another, so far undiscovered colony which provides regional population stability and it is assumed to be probably located in north-east China; for example, on the islands of Liaoning (near the Korean nesting zone). As black-faced spoonbills are migratory, their conservation is based on the protection of their breeding, "stop-over" and wintering grounds, making conservation efforts complex. However, spoonbills are able to adapt to disturbance on a large scale. The exact distribution of the species remains unclear, although some attempts at modelling population developments under climate change impacts have been made.