A visitor publish by Park Shinyeong, PhD Candidate College of Georgia and Birds Korea Intern (March-June 2024).
Hello, I’m Park Shinyeong, a PhD pupil learning integrative conservation on the College of Georgia, United States. I participated in Lengthy-billed Plover Charadrius placidus surveys with Birds Korea and Birds Korea Yeoncheon as an intern. Since Birds Korea’s mission to contribute to conservation via analysis aligns with my place as a researcher, I noticed this as a useful alternative to study present conservation points within the Yeoncheon space and collaborate with native specialists. Though the internship was quick, it was a useful expertise that exceeded my expectations and taught me to understand the sweetness and preciousness of our pure surroundings. I wish to take this chance to precise my deepest gratitude to Dr. Nial Moores and the Birds Korea Yeoncheon staff.
This spring, I spent a number of days in spring surveying Lengthy-billed Plovers, a nationally threatened chook species. Threatened species are these going through main challenges in sustaining their populations, typically because of habitat change brought on by human actions. The designation of ‘threatened species’ highlights the pressing want to handle biodiversity loss and defend the species, necessitating adjustments in human habits to assist their survival. Nevertheless, our survey revealed a tragic actuality: the required adjustments usually are not being made.
In March, in the course of the mating and incubation interval, Lengthy-billed Plovers fastidiously transfer across the extensive, flat, shingle terrain on the river, completely camouflaged. Regardless of it being the season for mating and nest-building, discovering a great place is sort of difficult because of fishers, campers, and predatory birds that now not migrate with the altering seasons. On the open, vegetation-free shingle area, with no distinct nest, the Lengthy-billed Plover couple cautiously lays and guards their eggs. The eggs, resembling shingle stones, are arduous to tell apart from the environment. To keep away from predators like snakes, crows, and herons, the Lengthy-billed Plover couple makes alarm calls and fake to be injured, doing their greatest to guard their nest.
After confirming the presence of Lengthy-billed Plovers at over 30 areas in Yeoncheon, we returned in Could to search for households that had entered the chick-rearing part. In all places we regarded, development was in progress, with clear indicators of excavators digging up the riverbed and heavy equipment sweeping via the river for civil engineering work. Even earlier than we might meticulously scan every shingle financial institution via the telescope, we couldn’t assist however sigh, questioning if the Lengthy-billed Plovers might have laid their eggs in such a disturbed space, and in the event that they did, whether or not the eggs might have survived and hatched safely. River dredging, tree removing alongside the riverbanks, street enlargement, and numerous different development actions had been happening for a number of causes, making it troublesome to seek out Lengthy-billed Plovers in such closely disturbed areas. Finally, we had been solely in a position to affirm the presence of Lengthy-billed Plover households at solely six out of the 30 areas.
The river-works had been possible undertaken to “handle” rivers, enhancing their utility as water sources, stopping flood harm, avoiding further hurt from vegetation institution (and even defending native ecosystems from invasive species?). Roads had been constructed alongside the shortest route and heavy equipment crossed the rivers to cut back development prices, and walkways had been created alongside rivers to carry folks nearer to nature. Nevertheless, these well-intentioned actions could possibly be extra successfully realized by contemplating the lives of organisms inhabiting the river ecosystems. Because the world will not be solely for people, it’s essential to handle different life varieties. Prioritizing human wants additionally might be achieved when addressing ecological considerations. The lack of biodiversity and the ensuing collapse of ecosystem constructions will in the end result in greater prices than we initially aimed to save lots of, and it will likely be troublesome to revive the misplaced steadiness. Though there appears to be a shared understanding of the significance of our world, the cycles of ecosystems, and the importance of a wholesome social construction, lots of our society’s selections are nonetheless pushed by short-sighted cost-benefit analyses and contradictory insurance policies.
Regardless that most individuals are unaware of the existence of Lengthy-billed Plovers; there isn’t a doubt that these birds are members of our society. The world they’ve helped form is the exact same world we reside in, and it’s a world that people should defend for their very own survival. From each day life to policy-making, we’d like a holistic perspective that considers these creatures who reside “individually but collectively” with us. City planning and “ecosystem administration” for human comfort mustn’t solely think about the prices and quick advantages to people however should additionally bear in mind the wildlife affected by human selections. With cautious consideration and decision-making, we are able to considerably enhance the lives of Lengthy-billed Plovers, which in flip will improve human life and our neighborhood as an entire.
The designation of threatened species raises consciousness in regards to the species and their ecosystems, offering a possibility to mirror on and try for a greater lifestyle. Species like cranes entice consideration from academia, the general public, and the federal government, resulting in lively efforts to broaden their habitats. Nevertheless, many threatened species stay exterior the highlight, with their populations quickly declining towards extinction. This internship jogged my memory that we reside in a time when it’s no exaggeration to say that the destiny of those species lies in human fingers. It’s extra essential than ever to review and analysis the assorted life varieties, perceive the place and the way they reside, and make sure that many individuals are conscious of this information and take motion to guard them.
Closing Remark: Birds Korea would additionally like to precise our heartfelt due to PhD Candidate Park Shinyeong for all of her arduous work and essential contributions to the analysis on Lengthy-billed Plovers and planning for the proposed Jeongok Wetlands Park throughout her internship – all deeply appreciated! All success to you in your doctoral program and we sit up for working with you once more sooner or later!
