Rare Seabird Reappears in Sarawak After a Century
In a remarkable turn of events, the Chinese Crested Tern (Thalasseus bernsteini), one of the world’s rarest seabirds, has been sighted off the coast of Asajaya, Sarawak, over a century since its last confirmed appearance in the region.
The sighting, which occurred in February 2024, has stirred excitement among conservationists and bird enthusiasts. The Malaysian Nature Society Kuching Branch (MNSKB) confirmed the find in a recent statement, calling it both a rare discovery and a critical reminder of nature’s fragility.
Among the team who made the discovery was Dr Ng Jia Jie, a veterinarian and active MNSKB member. For her and the rest of the team, the moment was profound.
“It was a dream come true for the team to re-encounter this incredibly rare species in Sarawak after more than a century,” she said.
“I recognised the Chinese Crested Tern by the black tip at the end of its beak.”
The bird was spotted among a flock of 10 to 20 Great Crested Terns (Thalasseus bergii), a more common cousin. Although the two species appear similar, trained observers can tell them apart by subtle differences.
“At first glance, the two look nearly identical. But the Chinese Crested Tern is slightly smaller—about 38 to 43 centimetres in length, compared to the Great Crested Tern’s 43 to 53 centimetres,” she explained.
“During the non-breeding season, both species have a white forehead and a backward-peaking black cap, which makes them challenging to distinguish.”
Globally, the Chinese Crested Tern is critically endangered, with an estimated population of only around 50 adult birds. That makes this single bird seen off Asajaya especially significant.
“This individual represents roughly two per cent of the global population,” Dr Ng noted.
The species is known to breed in limited coastal regions of eastern China, Taiwan, and South Korea, and migrates south during the winter to parts of Southeast Asia including the Maluku Islands in Indonesia and Davao del Norte in the Philippines.
Its appearance in Bako-Buntal Bay reinforces the area’s importance as a vital habitat for migratory birds. Recognised as both an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), the bay spans approximately 35.9 square kilometres, stretching from the Santubong Peninsula to the mouth of the Sadong River. Bako and Santubong National Parks, two fully protected areas, cover about 17.6 per cent of the IBA’s total area.
MNSKB chairperson Rose Au, who also witnessed the rare sighting, called it unforgettable.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience — for me and for anyone lucky enough to see this elusive bird,” she said.
She also highlighted the ecological value of Bako-Buntal Bay, particularly during the northern hemisphere’s winter months, when it serves as a critical stopover for birds migrating along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway.
“Bako-Buntal Bay fully meets IBA criteria. During winter, it hosts more than one per cent of the global population of several endangered or critically endangered species such as the Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes) and the Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis),” she explained.
Beyond the joy of the rediscovery lies a pressing concern. The Chinese
Crested Tern faces numerous threats, including breeding failures due to poaching, the egg-harvesting trade, increasingly violent typhoons, and shellfish fishing activities that disturb breeding habitats.
The sighting was made while the MNSKB team was conducting a population survey on the Far Eastern Curlew — a project funded by the
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, with support from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation.
What began as routine monitoring turned into a historic moment — a rare glimpse of a species many feared lost to time, and a gentle call to continue protecting the fragile web of life that exists in Malaysia’s rich coastal ecosystems.
