‘Saving the Swan River’: Decision to Restore Migratory Bird Feeding Grounds

Planting 'Saeseommaejagi' at Nakdong River Estuary, Concurrent Seedling Cultivation Project

Photo of Saeseommaejagi provided by Professor Kim Guyeon of Gyeongnam University.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kang Sharon] The "River of Swans" is expected to be reborn as a treasure trove of food for migratory birds.

The Nakdong River Management Headquarters in Busan is conducting a pilot project to restore colonies of Saeseommaejagi, a winter food source, in the Nakdong River estuary, a migratory bird habitat. Saeseommaejagi is the food of the swan, designated as Natural Monument No. 201.

Recently, the Saeseommaejagi colonies in the Nakdong River estuary have rapidly declined, leading to a decrease in the swan population.

Although the Ministry of Environment and others have been supporting the scattering of food such as rice seeds and sweet potatoes for migratory birds every year, a fundamental measure to secure food for swans and others was needed.

To overcome these difficulties, the Nakdong River Management Headquarters has teamed up with the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) Busan branch, Professor Kim Gu-yeon’s research team at Gyeongnam University, and Research Fellow Yeo Woon-sang at the Busan Research Institute to restore the Saeseommaejagi colonies.

This "Swan Guardian Dream Team" plans to plant Saeseommaejagi and carry out seedling cultivation for a large-scale restoration project. They will also conduct pilot projects for optimal discharge volume and salinity monitoring at the estuary dam necessary to maintain the colonies, as well as seed coating and sowing using drones. They aim to find the optimal direction for colony restoration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.