Umbrella species: The Spoon-billed Sandpiper
Protection of Wetlands Across Asia
The Spoon-billed Sandpiper, a vital umbrella species, migrates along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), one of the most critical and diverse migratory routes worldwide. This flyway spans over 8,000 kilometers, connecting breeding grounds in northeast Russia with key wintering sites across Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, China, and other regions.
As an umbrella species, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper’s conservation indirectly protects numerous other species within these ecosystems. The EAAF hosts many endangered bird species, such as Great Knot and the Black-faced Spoonbill. Conservation actions, including wetland protection and regulations against hunting, are critical for maintaining this route and support the survival of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper and other species reliant on these shared habitats across Asia.
33 globally threatened and near threatened species and almost half a million waterbirds benefit from the Spoon-billed Sandpiper focused conservation efforts.
Spoon-billed Sandpiper breeding ground in Chukotka, Russia
The coastal tundra breeding grounds in Chukotka, where the Spoon-billed Sandpiper nests, host a unique array of Arctic bird species that thrive in the same specialized habitats.
Removing Mist Nets: One Action, Many Species Protected
Mist nets, often used illegally for bird trapping, pose a significant threat to the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, especially in key wintering areas and stopover sites along its migratory route. These nets not only capture Spoon-billed Sandpipers but also entangle numerous other migratory birds, including endangered species like the Black-faced Spoonbill, Nordmann’s Greenshank, and the Far Eastern Curlew. By removing mist nets, our partners help reduce accidental capture and mortality, which is especially crucial for species with small, vulnerable populations.
International Cooperation Under the Umbrella of the Spoony
Protecting the Spoon-billed Sandpiper has sparked unprecedented international collaboration across Asia, linking conservation organizations, governments, and communities in a shared mission. This effort is building a strong regional network of environmental action, with countries working together to safeguard crucial wetland habitats, regulate hunting practices, and share research and resources. The sandpiper’s conservation is not only a strategy for its survival but a powerful catalyst for strengthening biodiversity protection and environmental cooperation across borders in Asia.
The many organizations working to save the Spoon-billed Sandpiper
ArcCona Consulting
Bangladesh Spoon-billed Sandpiper Conservation Project
Bangladesh Forest Department
Beijing Forestry University
Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Club
Birds Korea
Birds Russia
BirdLife International
BirdLife International in Indochina and University of Saigon
Bombay Natural History Society
BRC (Guangxi Biodiversity Research and Conservation Association)
BTO
Chester Zoo
Convention on Migratory Species
Conservation Ecology Program
School of Bioresources and Technology
King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT)
Department of National Parks
Wildlife and Plant Conservation of Thailand (DNP)
Duotan Wetland Research Institute (Hainan)
Fujian Birdwatching Society
German, Scandinavian and UK Spoon-billed Sandpiper Support Groups
Heritage Expeditions
Hong Kong Bird Watching Society
International Conservation Fund
International Conservation Fund of Canada
Liuzhou Birdwatching Society (Guangxi Province)
Mangrove Conservation Foundation
Moscow Zoo
Nanjing Normal University
Nature Conservation Society-Myanmar
New Zealand Department of Conservation
RSPB
SCOPE Foundation
SBS in China
University of Cambridge
Wader Quest
Wild Bird Society of Japan
WWT
Zhejiang Birdwatching Society
Zhanjiang Birdwatching Society
Zhiyu Art Museum (Guangxi Province).
Shorebird Stories
The Spoony of Peace
Much like the symbolic dove carrying an olive branch, the spoon-billed sandpiper transcends borders and politics, uniting governments, conservationists, and local communities in the shared mission of preventing its extinction.
Thank you for all you do!