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Special Attractions: Bird-Watching in KoreaBird-watching tour Sending a message of hope to soaring migratory birdsThe winter spectacle of flocks of migrant birds emerging from reed fields at a river mouth and disappearing into the hue of the sunset offers a majestic view, reminiscent of a beautiful watercolor painting. This month's KNTO edition briefly introduces Korea's new bird-watching tours, which have recently become popular, and highlights some of the country's major migrant bird habitats. Birds flying freely in the blue skies are a familiar sight in many parts of the world. However, it is not always so easy to get close to birds, as they are very agile and wary of people. In Korea, birds were frequently mentioned in old sayings, folk tales and legends. For example, there is a Korean saying that goes, "Swallow comes back from Gangnam (southern area)," which means swallows are the harbinger of spring. So we can say that birds have always been very closely linked to the lives of the Korean people. With its four distinctive seasons, Korea boasts scenic natural surroundings that change dramatically each season. Moreover, Korea serves as a major transit route for migrant birds, as it is a peninsula connected to the gigantic Siberian landmass, the breeding grounds for migratory birds. In winter, in particular, some of the world's rarest bird species visit Korea, making the country a Mecca for bird-watching tours. Winter migratory birds visiting Korea number about 5.6 million from 100 different species. Between mid-December and January to February every year, one can view the majestic spectacle of collective soaring of birds in major bird habitats across the nation. Typical migrant birds visiting Korea include ducks, wild geese, swans and cranes. The spectacular sight of huge flocks of migratory birds covering the skies can only be seen in the nation's main bird habitats in winter. Junam Reservoir and Cheonsuman reclaimed land are well known as habitats for 300,000 to 400,000 migrant birds, including black-faced spoonbills, with their yellow bills (Natural Monument No.205), as well as large wild geese and swans, Gachang ducks and black ducks with white cheeks. In Cheonsuman habitat, white storks have been observed too. Bird species that tend to be nocturnal sleep during the day and become active seeking food at sunrise and sunset, so the best time for bird watching is usually at dawn or dusk. Bird-watching starts with merely watching and listening to the various birdcalls and as time passes, bird-watchers are able to identify the names of the many different species of birds, becoming familiar with their behavior patterns and their habits and how best to locate these birds. Bird-watching offers a unique opportunity not only to view birds but also to learn and experience the mystery of nature. Tips
for bird-watching tours Secondly, binoculars and telescopes with high magnifications are a must when visiting places inaccessible to birds such as the sea and lakes. Birds are known to lower their wariness of humans when they are at least 70 to 100m distant. Binoculars with lenses of 7-9 magnification and telescope with lenses of 20-25 magnification are most suitable for bird-watching. Thirdly, illustrated bird books with accurate pictures and detailed explanation are extremely helpful guides to bird-watching, as birders become increasingly curious about birds and their names. Next, by sprinkling feed such as corn or wheat after watching birds, or early in the morning, people can watch birds more easily in the afternoon. Most important of all, exercising patience to wait for birds and caution not to frighten them away are essential qualities for successful birders. Moreover, in order to ensure a successful bird-watching tour, people should not throw stones at birds or shout at them and concerted efforts should be made to create an optimal ecological environment for bird-watching, such as sustained feeding, the creation of reed fields, and prohibition of early plowing of crop fields. Korea's
major bird habitats include Seosan Cheonsuman, Cheolwon area, Ganghwado
Island, the mouth of the Geumgang River, Junam Reservoir, Eulsukdo
Island at the mouth of Nakdonggang River and Bamseon at Hangang River.
Some of them are briefly introduced in this section. This huge tract of reclaimed land, like a vast sea, preserves the mystery and freshness of a wild land, while lakes rich in water plants, fish and shellfish, and rice and grass are scattered across the neighboring rice fields offering good feeding grounds to migratory birds. Starting from winter in 1993, numerous flocks of migratory birds started to visit Cheonsuman consisting of shallow lakes and wetlands. As mentioned above, white storks, one of the world's endangered species, were spotted in this habitat. Cheonsuman is drawing attention not only as the nation's largest winter bird habitat, but also as the world's leading bird habitat. Birds are observed throughout the year in Cheonsuman, so it offers the best location for photographing birds. In spring, in particular, visitors can enjoy the grandeur and brilliant sight of singing birds. For
More Information: How to get there: Take a bus for Seosan at Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal (takes three hours) and then take a bus for Ganwoldo at Seosan Bus Terminal (takes 40 minutes) Junam
Reservoir Junam Reservoir is a huge reservoir of 280 hectare and collectively refers to three reservoirs located in Dongyeong-myeon and Daesan-myeon, Changwon-gun, South Gyeongsang Province. Every year more than 100,000 migrant birds visit the reservoir to spend winter, as the freezing season is relatively short in this area and reed fields and farming lands around the reservoir offer birds feed and shelter. Birds of 30 species start to visit Junam Reservoir in early October and the visitation culminates in late December. Most of the birds head back to Siberia in early March. The most prominent flocks of birds are Gachang ducks and wild ducks, large geese, and various other species of birds visit the reservoir. It also has an observatory. For More Information:
Tourism Promotion Department How to get there: Take a bus No. 92-4 for Junam Reservoir at Changwon Intercity Bus Terminal (takes 40 minutes) and get off at Junam Reservoir. Walk 10 minutes. Cheolwon
area Cattails, wild grass and reeds are prevalent in wetlands scattering across fields in Cheontong-ri area situated in the southeast of the old Seoul-Cheolwon railway. Moreover, the Saemtong area where warm fountain springs provide water even in the freezing winter offers welcome shelter and feed for birds visiting the area. In the Cheontong-ri area, cranes designated as a natural treasure are frequently found and other crane-related birds and endangered eagles are also observed. As the Cheolwon area is restricted to civilians, individuals are not allowed to visit the area. Bird watching is possible only when application is made to the management office through bird-watching groups one week in advance of one's visit. For More Information:Bird Protection Association in Cheolwon The
Iron Triangle War Museum/ Park Jong-seok Meanwhile, the KNTO offers up-to-date information on bird watching tours on a continual basis through its English website www.tour2korea.com/birdwatching.htm, while staging a campaign to promote the nation's bird-watching areas through the world's leading bird-watching clubs and pam tours for bird-watching magazine journalists. Edited by Karen Devine |
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