Identification:
- Adult Male: Body length: 54 – 56 cm. Generally resembles the more common Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). However, the plumage is predominantly not black but rather dark brown on the back, and light brown with white spots on the belly. The head exhibits a mosaic of colors: black and white stripes on the head and cheeks, and light reddish-brown patches on the nape. Females and juveniles are paler than males.
- Juveniles: Often lack black coloration, instead displaying a light brown hue. Legs are dark green.
Biology and Ecology:
Found in humid forests and wetlands near forests, in lowland and foothill areas (up to approximately 1000 meters above sea level). Suitable habitats include forests near rivers and streams, commonly found within or around forest areas. The recent rediscovery of the Chinese Pond Heron was in a forest within a limestone valley at an elevation of about 700 meters, surrounded by mountains ranging from 1000 to 1100 meters. The diet of the Chinese Pond Heron consists of small animals such as fish, shrimp, and other invertebrates. They may forage at night, similar to other herons and egrets (observed in Lũng Ly, where the bird was found roosting during the day in tall trees). They are considered residents in Vietnam, although data on their breeding characteristics has yet to be obtained.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: Hòa Bình, Bắc Kạn.
- Worldwide: Southeastern China (Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan Island).
Value:
A rare genetic resource, facing a high risk of extinction in Vietnam and the region. An attractive subject for eco-tourism.
Status:
On April 30 and May 1, 2001, after nearly 25 years, a single individual was rediscovered in the Lũng Lì valley, within a limestone mountain forest located between Bản Thi and Xuân Lạc communes, Chợ Đồn district, Bắc Kạn province (39). No further information on this species has been reported in Hòa Bình, nor has the collected specimen from that location been rediscovered as described previously by Võ Quý (108).
The main threats are habitat loss and fragmentation (e.g., deforestation, clear-cutting), significant disturbance from various activities of local communities living in the forest, and extensive hunting in the past.
Classification:
CR A1a,c C2aD
Conservation Measures:
Expanding Ba Bể National Park (Bắc Kạn) and Nà Hang Special-Use Forest (Tuyên Quang) has been discussed in a proposal to establish a green corridor connecting these two protected areas (39). The Bản Thi – Xuân Lạc area, where the Chinese Pond Heron was recently rediscovered, is within a forest complex that has been proposed for expansion or the establishment of a protected area. Further surveys are needed in historical distribution areas of the species, as well as within and around the Ba Bể and Nà Hang protected areas, with increased protection and collaboration in these areas. When implementing conservation education programs for local communities in these areas, it is necessary to introduce the Chinese Pond Heron to attract the interest of the local people. Listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book (1992, 2000) as R (Rare).