Location:

Jiushan Islands, Xiangshan County, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China

Timing:

Late May 2025, for approximately one week

Eligibility:

●International volunteers with a strong interest in global biodiversity conservation and a willingness to contribute to the protection of the Chinese crested tern.

●Responsible, detail-oriented, and reliable team players who can complete assigned tasks effectively.

●Preference will be given to those who are in good health, resilient, and capable of working in challenging field conditions; applicants should be between 20 and 55 years old, regardless of gender.

●Candidates with basic Chinese communication skills, relevant research background, birdwatching experience, or an active presence on social media—and a willingness to advocate for this rare species—will be preferred.

Responsibilities:

●Conduct daily monitoring of terns, including observations from designated observation huts and surveillance systems, with a focus on tracking the breeding behavior of the Chinese crested tern.

●Collaborate with media teams on writing related articles and documentary filming.

●Monitor migratory bird activity on the island.

●Complete required work logs and reports in accordance with project guidelines.

What’s Covered:

All basic costs—transportation, meals, accommodation—will be covered by the organizers.

Contact us:

●Emails: ningboevening@gmail.com /

hitangyuan@163.com

●Facebook/X/Instagram: Ningbo Today

Institutions and media outlets interested in joining this long-term conservation project are also invited.

This is more than a volunteer opportunity. It is a poetic mission to guard what scientists call a “living fossil”—a bird that disappeared into legend and returned to remind us of what’s still worth saving. Together, we can help ensure that this “mythical bird of the East” continues to thrive.

By Pan Wenjie