Autumn migration has officially kicked off. Starting in mid-to-late July, shorebirds such as curlews, godwits and sandpipers have arrived as the first wave of migratory pioneers. The iconic Spoon-billed Sandpiper has also been spotted foraging on the tidal flats, with some individuals moulting out of their breeding plumage to grow winter plumage.
Yancheng Yellow Sea Wetlands, late July 2026 | Photo by Li Dongming
Flocks of migratory birds resting on tidal flats, late July 2026 | Photo by Li Dongming
The Wetland: Vital Migratory Bird Stopover
As a core hub along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, the intact silty tidal flats of Yancheng provide abundant food sources and safe resting grounds for millions of migratory birds:
Dense populations of benthic organisms sustain large flocks of birds.
Ecological restoration projects — including smooth cordgrass eradication and pond-to-wetland habitat conversion — have created key habitats such as Chuanshuiwan.
Key conservation initiatives include bird-friendly agricultural practices, routine wetland patrols and public community outreach programs.
The 2026 autumn migratory movement is now in full swing, and huge flocks of birds are expected to follow these early pioneer species in the coming weeks.
Spoon-billed Sandpiper | Photo by Li Dongming, captured at Yancheng Yellow Sea Wetlands, late July 2026