Rare International Bird Species Continue to Appear on Seosaeng Coast in Ulju-gun, Ulsan

Observation of Internationally Protected Far Eastern Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit

Documented by Bird Correspondents and Citizen Biologists

Internationally protected bird species and endangered wildlife have continued to visit the Seosaeng coast in Ulju County since July.

The Ulsan City Government announced on the 13th that from the 6th to the 9th, the 'Great Knot' and 'Bar-tailed Godwit' were observed at the Seosaeng coast and beach in Ulju County.

The 'Great Knot' and 'Bar-tailed Godwit' are internationally protected birds classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. This classification means that the species could be at risk in the near future.

Dunlin (rear) and Great Knot (front). [Image source=Jjaekjjaek Rest Area]

The 'Bar-tailed Godwit' is also designated and protected as a Class II endangered wildlife species.

These two birds were recorded in photos and videos by Ulsan Bird Correspondent Jeon Hyesun, citizen biologist Yoon Gideuk, Hong Seungmin, the head of the birdwatching club Jjaekjjaek Rest Area, and members Lee Seunghyun and Lee Jaeho, who have been continuously monitoring the area since the sightings of the Chinese Egret and Grey-tailed Tattler in July.

The Great Knot observed this time is drawing more attention as it is a rare migratory bird that is irregularly spotted in Korea during spring and autumn. In Korea, the first record was a juvenile found at Sorae Salt Field in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, on September 3, 1993, and sightings have been rare since then. Moreover, its appearance on the east coast is even more unusual, attracting bird enthusiasts to the Seosaeng coast.

The Bar-tailed Godwit is a common passage migrant in Korea from mid-April to May and from mid-August to mid-October, but this is the first time it has been documented with clear photographic evidence in Ulsan.

Both species feed on invertebrates such as marine worms and crabs in mudflats, beaches, and river mouths, and while their appearances are similar, the Great Knot has a thick black bill and black legs, while the Bar-tailed Godwit has an upward-curved bill with a pinkish base.

Park Chanyeol, an ornithologist and head of the Urban Forest Research Center at the National Institute of Forest Science, said, "The fact that many shorebirds, rarely seen on the east coast, are visiting the Seosaeng coast in Ulju County indicates that it offers a stable and favorable environment for feeding and resting."

Jo Samrae, an honorary professor at Kongju National University and a bird expert who appeared on SBS's 'What on Earth!', commented, "If continued monitoring reveals patterns, the area could gain status as a migratory bird habitat, leading to further activities for bird protection, birdwatching education, and tourism."

An Ulsan City official stated, "At the beginning of this year, we established a bird safari plan and have been actively conducting field birdwatching with the Ulsan Bird Correspondent and citizen biologists. With the recent sightings of the Chinese Egret, it feels as though we have newly discovered a national migratory bird habitat. We will continue our efforts to protect the visiting migratory birds."

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