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Excursion
Bird Surveys in January and February

The Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Korea went in the past two months on several excursions to catch a glimpse on several rare bird species of the Korean peninsula. For that, Kanseo wetland, Jungnangcheon estuary, Siam wetland, and Goseong were visited. Various species, some of them endangered, could be spotted but the loss and degradation of important habitats for waterbirds and other species became visible.

The Kangseo wetlands on the westside of Han River has been a great resting place for ducks, geese and other waterbirds. In recent years, the amount of bird species spotted in the wetlands have reduced drastically. On the 25th and 26th January 2020 Dr. Bernhard Seliger, representative of HSF Korea visited the area and noticed the reduced amount of waterbirds resting there. However, several duck- and grebe species could be spotted.

The Junghangcheon estuary in the Han River in Seoul is known for its big duck population. In recent years however, the amount of residing birds has reduced drastically due to infrastructural projects. Nevertheless, on the 1st February 2020 on a trip of HSF Korea several species could be spotted.

Since December 2018 the HSF Korea organizes in cooperation with Gimpo City regular excursions to Yu-do Island and the Siam wetlands. On the 4th February 2020 Dr. Seliger and Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi of the HSF Korea conducted a field survey together with Dr. Amaël Borzeé of the Nanjing Forestry University. At least 4000 geese could be spotted, most exemplars being Greater White-fronted Geese, Tundra Bean Geese, but a flock of Taiga Bean Geese and one Snow Goose as well. One of the biggest colonies of Greater Cormorants, about 120 birds, could be watched in full breeding plumage and as a special highlight of the excursion the participants could spot an Oriental Stork. This bird is categorized as “endangered”, according to the IUCN.

To introduce the frog ladders developed by Trevor Rose Ltd. to the Environmental Department of Goseong County, Dr. Seliger and Young-Soo Kim of HSF Korea visited Goseong. The opportunity of the visit was used for a bird survey as well. Goseong County, the Northwesternmost county of South Korea offered an important refuge for endangered species for years, far away from human interference with nature. Along with the advancing development of the border areas to North Korea the natural habitats of several species in Goseong are reducing rapidly. Nevertheless, the participants of the survey could count some rare species. Several as “vulnerable” classified Black-legged Kittiwakes and “near threatened” American Scoters could be spotted. The loss and degradation of habitats, like in Goseong is from HSS’s point of view deplorable, bit the foundation works on improvements, wherever possible.

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