Goyang-si Launches Drone Feeding Volunteer Team for Migratory Birds at Janghang Wetland

Spreading 500kg of Rice Seeds Using Drones
Effective in Preventing Avian Influenza Infection

Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) announced on the 9th that the ‘Janghang Wetland Migratory Bird Drone Feeding Volunteer Team,’ formed to distribute food to migratory birds arriving at Janghang Wetland, began its activities on the 7th.

The ‘Janghang Wetland Migratory Bird Drone Feeding Volunteer Team’ carries out activities to spread rice seeds by drone to provide food lacking for migratory birds, and on this day, about 500kg of rice seeds were dispersed.

Janghang Wetland is the only Ramsar wetland located at the Han River estuary and serves as a habitat for more than 30,000 migratory waterbirds annually.

Goyang Special City signed an ‘Ecosystem Service Payment Contract’ with farmers cultivating in protected wetland areas such as Janghang Wetland to protect migratory birds, and plans to distribute about 20 tons of rice this year.

The drone distribution was piloted in November last year, and based on expert opinions that it is an effective method to prevent and control the spread of avian influenza, it will be fully implemented this year. It is also more eco-friendly and safer in providing food to migratory birds compared to methods using tractors or manpower.

The drones used for food distribution are those owned by the Agricultural Technology Center, and the ‘Janghang Wetland Migratory Bird Drone Feeding Volunteer Team,’ composed mainly of farmers along with public officials and citizens holding drone Class 1 licenses, will regularly distribute food twice a week on Saturdays and Wednesdays until March next year.

Lee Jun-seok, head of the Janghang Wetland Migratory Bird Drone Feeding Volunteer Team, said, “Feeding birds with drones during the off-season is a volunteer activity that utilizes our skills and helps protect Janghang Wetland. I feel very rewarded to be able to participate.”

A Goyang Special City official stated, “As Janghang Wetland, a Ramsar wetland, was recently selected as an ecological tourism area, it is a place with excellent natural environment. We will continue to promote various wetland conservation activities centered around the Ramsar Goyang Janghang Wetland Ecology Center.”