Activities
Outdoor activities in March

In early February, Dr. Bernhard Seliger visited the border area between DPRK and South Korea of the Han estuary in Gimpo (Siam wetland and Yudo islet area) with Thomas Hahn of Süddeutsche Zeitung, a nationwide, Munich-based German newspaper, to practice birdwatching. They talked extensively about nature conservation in DPRK and South Korea and how habitats and species (especially birds) are connected across the border, which is so impenetrable for humans. On March 18^th, Thomas Hahn then recounted the experience of the joint excursion in an article entitled “Why frogs like dictatorships".

On March 21^st, Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi, Senior Researcher at HSF Korea, visited the Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre with EAAFP Secretariat to discuss future cooperation and share information regarding migratory birds and habitats. They also surveyed Robert Findlay Wildlife Reserve at the EAAFP site, Firth of Thames which is one of the most important feeding grounds for waders.

Furthermore, the EAAFP Secretariat and HSF Korea delegation visited Tiritiri Matangi Island and Aorangi Highland to learn about wildlife management, including bird habitats. Even though this site's ecological and geographical characteristics are different to the Korean Peninsula, the delegation learned the management direction for wildlife conservation. In particular, they discussed the habitat characters with volunteer guides in Tiritiri Matangi Island and Aorangi Highland. During this study tour, the delegation was able to observe over 30 species, such as South Island Takahe, North Island Saddleback, North Island Robin, and New Zealand Fantail.

On March 22^nd, HSF traveled to Songdo, South Korea to attend two important meetings. In the morning, HSF first met with the team of the United Nations for the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and then at noon, Dr. Bernhard Seliger gave a presentation at the State University of New York (SUNY Korea). Afterward, HSF went to the coast in Songdo to conduct a bird survey on the tidal flats.

On March 27^th, Eunjeong Lee, Eunjeong Kim, Insook Jeon of EcoKorea, and Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi of HSF Korea did a joint survey along the Han River Estuary. They observed over 40 species, including around 106 Sawn Geese at the Jogang-ri wetland area, 1,233 Grest Cormorant at Yu-do, 2 Black-faced Spoonbill around Yu-Do, and 2 Black-faced Spoonbill in the rice paddy area of North Korea area from the Aegibong Peace Park.

The last excursion to the Siam Wetlands and Aegibong Peace Eco Park took place on March 29^th. During this bird survey, 32 different species have been observed.