Work continues on our collaborative wetland restoration venture at Maekdo Ecopark within the Gangseo District of Busan Metropolis, kindly supported by SER and Microsoft, and carried out beneath Birds Korea’s MOU with the Busan Nakdong River Tasks Administration Workplace.
Maekdo, though closed to the general public till the top of March as a consequence of considerations over Avian Influenza, is certainly one of a series of Ramsar-defined internationally essential wetlands that by the actions of waterbirds join key estuarine habitats in Busan (e.g., Myeongji and the restored wetlands on Eulsuk Island) with relict floodplain wetlands alongside the Nakdong River at Maekdo, Samnak and Daejo. These in flip join with the great wetlands in neighboring Gimhae at Hwapocheon, and the extra well-known nonetheless Junam in Changwon and Upo in Changnyeong County.
Typical species at Maekdo in winter embody geese, swans, raptors, skylarks and buntings – with Yellow-throated, Rustic and Pallas’s Reed among the many three commonest wintering small landbirds there – whereas spring migration features a scattering of shorebirds and summer time regulars embody small numbers of Zitting Cisticola and Widespread Cuckoo, Eurasian Interest and lots of Oriental Reed Warbler.
Most likely no chicken species higher represents Maekdo in winter and hyperlinks collectively the entire “Decrease Nakdong Wetlands” than the Japanese Taiga Bean Goose 큰부리큰기러기 Anser fabalis middendorffii. It is because these Decrease Nakdong Wetlands assist the overwhelming majority of the “Korea Non-Breeding Inhabitants” of this taxon from November-February. Though extra analysis is required, the entire inhabitants of middendorffii is estimated in 2026 on the Waterbirds Inhabitants Estimate portal as solely 41,200 people, with 7,700 of those wintering within the Republic of Korea (ROK). Sturdy declines have been noticed in wintering areas in PR China and particularly in that a part of the breeding vary within the Russian Federation the place Korea’s Japanese Taiga Bean originate.
Degradation of wetlands alongside the Nakdong River signifies that a considerable proportion of the c. 1,500 Japanese Taiga Bean wintering in Busan now want pure foraging to be supplemented by synthetic meals – grain supplied by authorities our bodies. Though important to the species’ survival throughout extreme climate, this can lead to the next threat of their publicity to Avian Influenza. It additionally advantages solely a small variety of different species (most particularly Whooper Swans, Widespread Pheasant, Oriental Magpies and “Far Japanese” Skylarks). Probably the most economical and genuinely sustainable long-term options to habitat degradation, as supposed by the Sustainable Growth Objectives, are habitat enhancement, restoration and creation.
Our pilot restoration venture goals to cut back this dependence on synthetic meals by reprofiling one of many fields used for synthetic feeding (this to be carried out in March by Land Aura along with workers from Maekdo and Busan); then to maintain this space provided with water; and subsequent to seed and plant it with native wetland vegetation typically foraged on by Japanese Taiga Bean Goose beneath the skilled supervision of Professor Byun Chaeho and colleagues. Planting and seeding shall be carried out primarily by volunteers within the first two weeks of April. Monitoring of the location will proceed for 2 years as a part of this venture.
Along with assessing modifications in plant range, a part of the analysis in 2026 and 2027 shall be to evaluate whether or not or not there are modifications in populations of invertebrates and the chicken species group; one other aspect shall be to proceed bettering understanding of the potential chicken strike threat and on methods to cut back it (analysis thus far suggests that only a few of the geese at Maekdo cross the flight path of plane – as an alternative, when disturbed, most fly east throughout the river, away from the trail of arriving plane, to the wetland within the southern half of Samnak Eco-park).
In early 2026, work as a part of our collaborative restoration venture has included conferences on finalising permissions for the re-profiling; filming of geese and different waterbirds by Korea’s prime chicken Youtuber 새덕후 as a part of the venture’s awareness-raising element; preparation of the planting and volunteer actions; and analysis on birds, with weekly counts by late January and February in Maekdo and the decrease components of Samnak Eco-park throughout the river in Saha-Gu.
Since discussions on this venture with the Nakdong Estuary Eco-centre and the Challenge Administration Workplace began in spring final yr, our analysis has thus far discovered 21 precedence chicken species at Maekdo (i.e., chicken species assessed as Nationally or Globally Threatened or as Nationwide Pure Monuments), with seven of those assessed as Globally Threatened. eBird provides another: Search engine marketing Mingyun noticed three (and photographed one) globally Endangered Oriental Stork at Maekdo on February seventeenth.
Amongst many observations of word in January and February:
Tundra Swan 고니 Cygnus columbianus. One grownup in among the many Whooper Swan flock within the Lotus Ponds on January twenty second.
Whooper Swan 큰고니 Cygnus cygnus. After peaking in mid-December (when 1,180 have been current – an internationally essential 2% of the “East Asia Inhabitants” in response to the Waterbirds Inhabitants Estimate Portal), the very best depend thus far in 2026 was 695 on January twenty fourth.
Greylag Goose Anser anser 회색기러기 . Now recorded yearly within the ROK, however nonetheless exceptionally uncommon in Busan (first metropolis file?)…one was seen on a number of dates in January by birdwatchers in the principle Lotus Ponds. My solely sighting was of presumably the identical particular person seen in flight by the principle street about 7km north at Daejo on February twelfth.
Japanese Taiga Bean Goose 큰부리큰기러기 Anser fabalis middendorffii My highest depend at Maekdo was 817 on February twenty sixth, representing 10-11% of the Korea Non-Breeding Inhabitants of the species. On the adjoining Samnak, I counted 1,349 on February twelfth.
Ferruginous Duck 적갈색흰죽지 Aythya nyroca. For the reason that first nationwide file in 2002, has steadily elevated nationally, with maybe 20-50 nationwide in 2024 and 2025. Following two seen in December, one male and one presumed “pure” feminine have been seen on the river on January twenty fourth
Baer’s Pochard 붉은가슴흰죽지 Aythya baeri. Globally Critically Endangered. One near-“pure” grownup male was current all through, with a second extra clearly hybrid Baer’s x Ferruginous additionally current on the February twenty sixth.
The near-pure grownup male was current in the identical wetland final winter, when my notion was {that a} troubling patch of brilliant brown on the crown turned much less distinct by the winter. This winter, it seems that the patch would possibly have gotten a bit of smaller, however it’s persistent and sometimes takes on an orangey gloss – indicating another affect, presumably from Ferruginous Duck. Remarkably, two very comparable trying people have been seen this winter, with one in Japan reported on Kantori on February twenty second by Wilkins Micawber and one in Shenzen in Southern China (through Siyul Lee in Hong Kong). A second chicken was discovered close by at Maekdo on February twenty sixth, and along with exhibiting some orange-brown on the crown, variations from Baer’s included that the invoice appeared much less large and the top a bit of too peaked, and the flanks confirmed very restricted white on the foreflanks.
It could be very attention-grabbing to listen to peoples’ ideas on methods to assess such birds. The second particular person appears to point out lots of the options anticipated in hybrid Ferruginous x Baer’s seen over the previous twenty years, so can simply be listed as hybrid. Nonetheless, the primary particular person and the birds in Japan and Shenzen appear to be a lot nearer to Baer’s. Contemplating the latest small restoration in inhabitants of Baer’s Pochard, may these maybe be Second and even Third Technology hybrids? Ought to these birds which can be clearly virtually “pure” Baer’s be labelled as Baer’s or ought to they too be listed as hybrids?
Of potential curiosity to any such dialogue, a captive Baer’s Pochard linked to by Birds of the World (labelled: A Emmerson, 27 Apr 2014, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom) appears very Baer’s like, but in addition exhibits a really small patch of orange-brown on the crown; as do e.g., photographs ML536345561 from Beijing in 2023 and particularly ML615490250 from Assam in 2024. Certainly, 9 out of the primary 25 males with photographs labelled as Baer’s Pochard that I checked out within the Macaulay Library confirmed some heat on the crown (with a number of of those birds extra clearly hybrids, as they present extra anomalies suggesting affect from Ferruginous Duck).
Northern Lapwing 댕기물떼새 Vanellus vanellus. Globally Close to Threatened. Fairly native winter customer to the ROK with <500 estimated to overwinter within the ROK. Though one or two remained at Maekdo and 4-5 at Samnak by the winter, 34+ at Maekdo and 7 at Samnak, together with a pair in show flight, on February twenty sixth recommend that northward migration is now correctly underway…
Nice Cormorant 민물가마우지 Phalacrocorax carbo. Numbers appeared to peak within the first two weeks of February, when 1,400-2,500+ have been flying down (and up?) river, with flocks of a number of hundred flying from the Search engine marketing-Nakdong to the Nakdong correct, probably throughout the flight path of plane.
Eurasian Eagle-Owl 수리부엉이 Bubo bubo. One was at Maekdo on not less than January twenty third and twenty fourth.
Better Noticed Eagle 항라머리검독수리 Clanga clanga. VU. A uncommon migrant and winter customer within the ROK. Three birds over-wintered in Busan in 2025/ 2026, with not less than remaining into early February: an grownup within the estuary, a fresh-looking juvenile (2cy in January) which prefered Maekdo; and a maybe older immature, which appeared to maneuver between Samnak and Maekdo.
White-tailed Eagle 흰꼬리수리 Haliaeetus albicilla. An grownup and an immature have been current all through.
Tough-legged Buzzard 털발말똥가리 Buteo lagopus. Scarce within the ROK most winters; and all the time uncommon in Busan. One was current on January twenty fourth.
Merlin 쇠황조롱이 Falco columbarius. A feminine was current at daybreak on February twelfth.
Peregrine Falcon 매 Falco peregrinus. A younger chicken was current within the fields on February fifth and an grownup was current there on February twenty sixth.
Dusky Warbler 솔새사촌 Phylloscopus fuscatus. A standard migrant and more and more common over-winterer in coastal areas. Uncommon within the southeast. Current all through, with 4 on February fifth the very best day-count.
Siberian Rubythroat 진홍가슴 Calliope calliope. A regionally frequent migrant, particularly alongside the west coast, and really uncommon breeder on Seorak Mountain within the northeast. Only a few winter information. One was heard on January eleventh.
Richard’s Pipit 큰밭종다리 Anthus richardi. An everyday migrant alongside the west coast that overwinters yearly on Jeju in very small numbers. One was current from November by to not less than February fifth.
Birds Korea is a small organisation with a big and increasing workload. In case you are concerned with our work, have a while and related expertise (e.g., a working information of Korean and English, and of birds, vegetation, invertebrates, environmental design or environmental training) and want to contain extra deeply with us in Busan or wherever within the ROK, please contact me straight (Nial.Moores at birdskorea dot org): thanks!
