April 22, 2025 marks the 56th Earth Day, a monumental global event that unites nearly 200 countries and engages over a billion people annually. This unparalleled celebration aims to enhance ecological consciousness and underscore the symbiotic relationship between humanity and nature, rallying individuals worldwide to cherish and safeguard our shared planet.

Turning the lens on the wild animals and plants in Ningbo, Tangyuan International Communication Center meticulously captures evocative yet often overlooked moments of natural wonder: resplendent azaleas adorning mountain peaks, wild roses gracefully lining pathways, gorgeous butterflies dancing in jubilation, cicadas undergoing their mystical overnight transformation, cormorants skillfully fishing, and devoted mother ducks guiding their ducklings on spring excursions. Through micro-documentaries, short videos, livestreams, images and texts, among other multimedia presentations, the series showcases Ningbo’s prodigious biodiversity and pristine ecosystems, fostering a deep reverence and awe for the natural world.

As the world celebrates the 56th Earth Day, we are inviting international volunteers to join a rare and poetic mission: to help protect the critically endangered Chinese crested tern—known by some as the “mythical bird of the East.”

Crowned in white and cloaked in mystery, the elegant Chinese crested tern once vanished from our sight for more than half a century. A critically endangered species once found only along China’s eastern coast and parts of Southeast Asia, the elusive seabird was rediscovered in 2000 off the coast of Fujian. Its fragile comeback—first in the Mazu Islands, and later on Zhejiang Province’s Jiushan Islands—has become a symbol of hope in the fight against biodiversity loss.

Now, with fewer than 200 individuals known globally, the bird remains perched on the edge of extinction. And yet, thanks to a landmark species recovery initiative launched in 2013, it is also one of the planet’s most inspiring stories of ecological revival.

The project, co-led by the Jiushan Islands National Nature Reserve in Ningbo’s Xiangshan County, in partnership with the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History and Oregon State University, pioneered the world’s first artificial attraction and breeding program for the Chinese crested tern. By recreating natural nesting environments and using decoys and audio lures, conservationists have succeeded in guiding the birds back to their ancestral breeding grounds—boosting hatching success rates and growing the population.

To date, the project has seen the successful hatching of 209 tern chicks—more than 80% of the known global total. The global population of the Chinese Crested Tern has increased from fewer than 50 individuals to nearly 200, effectively halting this critically endangered species from sliding into the abyss of extinction.

In addition to its scientific significance, the effort represents China’s commitment to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and offers a working model for endangered species recovery. Since 2017, over 500 citizen volunteers have joined field patrols, collected ecological data, and helped raise public awareness, forming a collaborative network that includes government agencies, research institutions, and the broader public.

Now, a new chapter begins.

In 2025, Ningbo Daily Group International Communication Center plans to launch the Protect Terns Together: Global Observer Project for the Chinese Crested Tern with Jiushan Islands National Nature Reserve, several government departments, as well as domestic and international environmental organizations and global media partners.

The call is open to international volunteers who are passionate about biodiversity and ready to play a hands-on role in species protection. Four global observers will be selected (two-person teams) to work on-site at the Jiushan Islands—one of the world’s best vantage points to observe this extraordinary bird.