Gochang County Selects Far Eastern Curlew as Bird of the Month

Endangered Migratory Bird
Gochang County Puts Its Best Efforts into Ecosystem Conservation

Gochang County in North Jeolla Province has designated the Far Eastern Curlew, an endangered migratory bird, as the "Bird of the Month" for August at the Gochang Tidal Flat.

According to the county on August 4, the Far Eastern Curlew breeds in northern Russia (Sakhalin Island and the Kamchatka Peninsula) and then migrates south, flying 25,000 kilometers to spend the winter in Australia and New Zealand. During this long journey, the birds use the Gochang Tidal Flat as an important stopover site, where they rest, feed, and replenish their energy reserves.

Promotional poster for this month's bird at Gochang Mudflat, the Alakkkorimadoyo. Provided by Gochang County

In particular, this large curlew uses its long, curved bill and long legs to hunt the fiddler crab, its main food source, in the tidal flats. The bill of the Far Eastern Curlew is optimized in both depth and angle to match the burrows of fiddler crabs, allowing it to effectively capture crabs hiding in their holes.

Starting this month, the Far Eastern Curlew will rest and feed at the Gochang Tidal Flat to store energy, and then, in October, it will migrate again to its wintering grounds in Australia and New Zealand.

This species is facing a severe risk of extinction worldwide, with its population sharply declining. In Australia alone, its population has reportedly decreased by about 82% over the past 30 years. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified it as "Endangered (EN)," and in Korea, it is designated as a "Class II Endangered Wildlife Species" for protection.

Choi Soonpil, head of the World Heritage Division at Gochang County, stated, "The Gochang Tidal Flat is a precious habitat where migratory birds from around the world can rest," and added, "We will continue to do our best to conserve the ecosystem in line with its status as a World Heritage Site, so that migratory birds can stay here safely."

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