Gochang County Selects Endangered Migratory Bird "Hooded Crane" as Bird of the Month

"Protecting Rare Migratory Birds and Preserving the Mudflat Ecosystem"

Gochang County in North Jeolla Province has selected the endangered migratory bird, the Hooded Crane, as the "Bird of the Month" for December at the Gochang Mudflat and is launching a campaign to raise awareness of the ecological importance of the mudflat during winter.

December Bird of the Month at Gochang Mudflat - Hooded Crane Poster. Provided by Gochang County

According to the county on December 2, the Hooded Crane is a species of crane characterized by a white neck and parts of its head, a predominantly black body, and a distinctive patch of red skin on the top of its head.

Internationally, it is classified as a vulnerable species (VU), and domestically, it is designated as a Class II endangered wild animal and a Natural Monument, requiring special protection.

The Hooded Crane breeds in Russia and Mongolia and migrates south to spend the winter in warmer regions. While it was previously observed only intermittently at the Gochang Mudflat during spring and autumn migration periods, the number of wintering individuals has steadily increased each year since the mudflat was designated as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2021.

In particular, the Gochang Mudflat has established itself as an important wintering site for migratory birds, attracting not only Hooded Cranes but also White-naped Cranes, Black-necked Cranes, and Sandhill Cranes. This demonstrates that the abundance of food resources and the undisturbed natural environment make the mudflat an attractive habitat for crane species.

Choi Soonpil, Head of the World Heritage Division at the county, stated, "The fact that the highly cautious Hooded Crane is wintering stably here alone confirms the health and conservation value of the Gochang Mudflat ecosystem," adding, "We will continue to do our utmost to preserve the habitats of protected migratory birds, including the Hooded Crane."

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