Endangered Bird of Prey 'Saehorigi' Spotted in Seongmisan, Mapo-gu

Achievements of Removing Recklessly Operated Sports Facilities and Planting Trees with Residents... After Spawning in Spring, Moving to Warm Places in Fall, Can Be Observed at Seongmisan Until October

A pair of little egrets flying over Seongmisan Mountain

Two baby herons waiting for food in the nest at Seongmisan

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] The Chinese Sparrowhawk (a bird of prey in the Accipitridae family), known to inhabit only clean urban forests, has appeared in Seongmisan located in Seongsan-dong, Mapo-gu.

Mapo-gu (Mayor Yudonggyun) announced that on August 3rd, following a report from Lee Minhyung, the instructor of ‘Chaebium Seodang’ who teaches Eastern classics to children at the foot of Seongmisan, it was confirmed that a pair of Chinese Sparrowhawks were diligently bringing food to two chicks on the mid-slope of Seongmisan.

The name Chinese Sparrowhawk originates from its habit of luring and catching small birds. It is a bird of prey in the Accipitridae family, resembling a hawk overall but smaller in size with a body length of about 35 cm, making it one of the smaller raptors. A key distinguishing feature is its reddish-brown underbelly, which sets it apart from other birds of prey.

Since breeding was first confirmed in Korea in 1981, the Chinese Sparrowhawk has mainly inhabited forests near urban areas or farmlands. However, due to habitat loss from deforestation, it has been designated as a Class II endangered wild animal.

The reason the Chinese Sparrowhawk nested in Seongmisan is because the once barren hill, devastated by firewood logging, transformed into a lush forest through Mapo-gu’s greening projects.

In 2013, sports facilities such as a golf driving range and badminton courts, which were being operated disorderly within Seongmisan, were removed. Mapo-gu and its residents worked together to plant trees through various tree-planting events, including those commemorating Arbor Day.

Additionally, as part of the ‘Planting 5 Million Trees Project,’ a key initiative of the 7th local government administration, Mapo-gu planted over 21,000 trees in Seongmisan from 2019 through the first half of this year, creating a dense forest.

Transformed into a green forest, Seongmisan now hosts many small birds and insects and provides ample nesting resources, making it an ideal breeding ground for the Chinese Sparrowhawk. Besides the Chinese Sparrowhawk, about 50 species of wildlife, including the natural monument Blakiston’s fish owl, also inhabit the area.

The Chinese Sparrowhawk breeds from May to August and is a migratory bird that moves to warmer areas before the cold season. Visitors can see it in Seongmisan until October.

Furthermore, the district plans to continue planting various tree species in Seongmisan to maintain a natural ecosystem where natural monuments and endangered species can thrive.

Yudonggyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, stated, “The confirmation of Chinese Sparrowhawk breeding in Seongmisan is a result of the greening project. We will continue the 5 Million Trees Project and work closely with experts to ensure the Seongmisan ecosystem is well preserved.”

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