The Spoon-billed Sandpiper, featured in the book Arctic Flight is one of the most charismatic shorebirds in the world. Surveys on their breeding grounds in the Russian Far East this summer have shown a dramatic decline and the species is close to the brink of extinction. It is now thought that the entire world breeding population is maybe as low as 100 pairs. An official press release by Birdlife International on the Spoon-billed Sandpiper's current status should be available very soon.Click here.

One major factor adding to the decline of Spoon-billed Sandpiper and other shorebirds in the region is the reclaimation of huge areas of tidal mudflats which the birds rely on for feeding during migration times. One important refeuling point on their migration route was the recently reclaimed tidal habitat at Saemangeum in South Korea. This was formerly one of the most important migration stop-off locations for Spoon-billed Sandpipers and other wading birds in the whole of the region. There is a chance that some of this area could be reflooded with saltwater once again. If you are interested in helping to try and save some of this essential habitat please click here and help these birds.