Bird news and photos by Leslie Hurteau. Spring migration usually starts somewhat early on Jeju Island, compared with the mainland. To catch up a bit, March had signs of bunting movement (Rustic and migrating Yellow-throated), large groups of Pale Thrush with some Grey-backed mixed in, Red-flanked Blutails, and Olive-backed Pipits. All of these are regular winter visitors on Jeju, but regardless some movement was noticeable comparing numbers to earlier months. While March had some movement happening, April started with a big bang, especially within the first few days (April 1st to 5th). On Apri ..read more

Bird News by Nial Moores and Charlie Moores A full week of dawn to dusk birding sandwiched between two half-days on Baengnyeong yielded a total of c. 174 species, with an obvious progression through the week from tardy winterers to mid-spring arrivals – especially in the west of the island, while in the northeast, decent numbers of Brambling, large numbers of Hawfinch and several Japanese Waxwing seemed incongruous with the unseasonably warm temperatures.  Japanese Waxwing Bombycilla japonica 홍여새 © Nial MooresLittle Bunting Emberiza pusilla 쇠붉은뺨멧새 © Nial Moores In addition to good views o ..read more

A few notes on species and plumages not regular seen at this site. Regular winter visitors at the site are Black-headed Gulls, but this early spring we can see several individuals that have already a full-developed summer plumage at the beginning of April. It seems that this year the seasonal change is starting a bit earlier. Black-headed Gull 붉은부리갈매기 Chroicocephalus ridibindus Another indication of an earlier seasonal change is, that other winter visitors, that stayed regular at the site up to after mid-April have already left. These include for example Mallard, Northen Shoveler, Common Sheld ..read more

Dr. Bernhard Seliger (Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea, Birds Korea) This post is mostly about cranes – though, unfortunately, not those cranes now flying off to Northern breedings grounds, though I managed yesterday to see five late White-naped cranes as well as one single late Cinereous vulture on my trip to Paju and Yeoncheon. The cranes I talk about are those of construction, and, unfortunately, it is going on everywhere. I visited four spots: the small wetland near Paju Book City (Chulbandanji Yoosooji), Gongneungcheong estuary in Paju, Imjin river near the K-water building and finally Horog ..read more

새와 생명의 터 회원 여러분, 반갑습니다! 여러분께서 이미 아시듯이, 새와 생명의 터는 20여 년의 긴 시간 동안 한국과 광역의 황해생태권역의 새와 서식지 보전을 위해 기여해왔습니다. 새들은 그 자체로도 놀랍도록 중요하지만, 수분(가루받이)과 해충 방제부터 정서적 안정을 안겨주는 등 인간에게 많은 혜택을 제공하고 있습니다. 또한 새는 훌륭한 생태지표종으로 개체 수 변화를 통해 생태계 건강성 변화를 파악하는 데 도움을 줍니다. 조류 개체 수의 변화를 추적하면 개발 사업과 기후 변화가 생물 다양성에 미치는 영향을 이해할 수 있습니다. 그렇기에 ‘새와 생명의 터’는 온 힘을 다해 새에 관한 정직한 데이터를 수집하여 연관된 정보에 근거한 교육 프로그램의 진행, 발표, 혹은 출판물 등을 통해 공유해오고 있습니다. 또한 이러한 데이터를 활용한 모든 계획과 설계에 있어서 확실한 과학적 기반을 제공합니다. 2024년 상반기 3개월 동안에만 이미 한스 자이델 재단과 강원 해안에서 바닷새 개체 수를 공동 조사했으며 조사 장면은 유튜버 새덕후의 훌륭한 촬영에 담겼습니다. 최근까지12 ..read more

As you know, for twenty (long!) years Birds Korea has been working for the conservation of birds and their habitats in Korea and the wider Yellow Sea Eco-region.  We do this work because birds are wonderfully important in themselves, and because they also provide so many benefits to people, ranging from pollination and pest control to providing a sense of place and well-being. Importantly, birds are also excellent bio-indicators – helping to reveal changes in ecosystem health through changes in their abundance. Tracking changes in bird populations helps us to understand the impacts of dev ..read more

Text and all images by (and copyright of) Nial Moores, Birds Korea A little under a week of late winter / early spring bird survey, conducted in generally cold and often very windy conditions as part of an intended increase in conservation activity on the island in 2024 and especially 2025 (following our signing of an MOU on March 21st with Incheon KFEM). In all, 101 species of bird were logged including an island first record of Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica, bringing the island total up to about 392 species (based on the Birds Korea Checklist) in a little over 12 years of research visits, star ..read more

With the development of the Namak New City (남악신도시) in the beginning of this millennium about 15 years ago the Namak Waterpark was opened. This park was built around lager patches of reed just along the bicycle track along the northern shore of the Yoengsan Lake with one-half in the city of Mokpo and one half in the area of Muan county. People for their walks use the park very well, and on weekends, many families with their little children visit the areas where the kids can play and stroll around. Map of the complete part (small) and the Muan part in detail The park is about 1.8 km long and abo ..read more

Dr. Bernhard Seliger, Hanns Seidel Foundation and Birds Korea In slightly raining condition, and without the possibility to enter the CCZ due to the ongoing military exercises and tense situation at the border, this survey started at Siam wetland. For the first time I was glad about the wooden shelter for birdwatching, since it helped to protect against rain. But first, there was a surprise: an eagle owl sitting directly by the small reservoir, for well over an hour not moving (from 7 to 8.30 in the morning). I wonder if this has been released from the directly adjacent wildlife rescue place o ..read more

Dr Nial Moores, Director, Birds Korea / 새와생명의터, IUCN SSC Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Group This is a short introduction to a tremendously valuable online resource developed by Andreas Kim, the former web-spinner of Birds Korea’s now archived websites and independent researcher, perhaps best-known for his work for the Mokpo Namhang Urban Wetland and elsewhere in Jeollanam Province, Republic of Korea (ROK). Report cover © Andreas Kim. Globally, biodiversity is in decline. One in five migratory species are at risk of extinction, and even the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 cit ..read more