Saunder's gull  (Larus saundersi)

The reclamation of tidal flats and saltmarshes along coastlines of China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan pose a serious threat to this coastal gull species. Already, key breeding sites have been abandoned following construction and development. Two breeding sites in China are heavily disturbed, as they are oilfields with an active extraction industry. Disturbance is a threat at many nest sites, particularly by lugworm collectors in China and photographers in South Korea, as disturbing adults results in increased predation of eggs and chicks (2).

Currently the key nesting sites in China are nature reserves and three wintering sites are protected areas, although this is poorly enforced. However, an important breeding colony at the Yellow River Delta Nature Reserve in China would benefit enormously from expansion to include further nest sites as well as the feeding sites of breeding birds. Sustainable coastal management plans are crucial for coastal species that are typically threatened by coastal development around the world. Saunder's gull is not legally protected as yet (2).