Ducks and Egrets Live at the Steel Mill

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] Birds such as ducks and herons inhabit the steel mill, which is filled with noise and heat, drawing attention.

On the 19th, according to industry sources, employees discovered a spot-billed duck raising its ducklings near the sedimentation tank at the iron ore raw material stockyard of POSCO Pohang Steelworks' FINEX plant.

The sedimentation tank is a place where residue that comes out with water sprayed on the raw material stockyard settles, and as soil accumulated on the bottom, aquatic plants began to grow naturally.

This created an environment where spot-billed ducks, which prefer wetlands, could raise their young.

Despite the harsh environment with noise and dust, about ten spot-billed ducks formed a group and foraged around the sedimentation tank. After the ducklings grew to a certain extent, they recently left for another location.

Spot-billed ducks are relatively common in Korea but are classified as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Herons and little egrets also form groups and inhabit the Pohang Steelworks.

In the forested area extending from the Hyeongsan River to the steel mill, hundreds of herons and little egrets nested around April.

With a little careful observation, one can often see them going back and forth between the river and the sea to forage or bringing food to their young.

The area around Pohang Steelworks is near the Hyeongsan River, making it easy to find food and is sparsely populated.

A company official said, "It is a welcome thing that birds inhabit the factory, so we are accepting it with pleasure."

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