Crested Honey Buzzard: Breeding Hen in Yeoncheon, 2025

Ⅰ Abstract

1. This mission goals to supply clear proof that Crested Honey Buzzards breed in Yeoncheon as a citizen science effort.

2. In 2025, a breeding pair inhabited an space close to Gunnam Dam (about 700 meters away in a straight-line distance), and a fledged juvenile was later noticed inside the very same territory. This efficiently confirms the breeding of the Crested Honey Buzzard in Yeoncheon.

– This pair was noticed repeatedly staying throughout the territory from Could 2 to September 22.

– From mid-July to mid-August, adults have been seen transporting meals.

– On the afternoon of August 18, the grownup male circled slowly for about quarter-hour close to the woods of the suspected nesting website whereas calling out. That is presumed to be encouraging and coaching the juvenile as its fledging day approached.

– Simply after midday on August 29, the dad or mum birds flew straight over the suspected nesting woods, which appeared to stimulate the juvenile to take its first flight.

– On September 4, a single juvenile with pristine plumage was noticed circling slowly proper close to the suspected nesting website.

3. Moreover, 1–2 people showing to be breeding adults have been noticed close to the Samicheon stream throughout the CCZ (Civilian Management Zone), and one fledged juvenile was recorded close to Mount Godae. Placing these items collectively, it’s seemingly that not less than 2–3 pairs bred in Yeoncheon in 2025.

4. Other than these native birds, 10 passage migrants migrating southward have been counted from the identical remark level, and a particular name was heard as soon as close to the Tomb of King Gyeongsun through the autumn migration.

5. In whole, 15 to 17 Crested Honey Buzzards have been recorded in Yeoncheon in 2025:

– 1 breeding pair and 1 fledged juvenile

– 1–2 presumed breeding adults and 1 juvenile seemingly fledged in Yeoncheon

– 10–11 passage migrants passing via through the autumn migration interval

Ⅱ Primary Data

1. Crested Honey Buzzards (Pernis ptilorhynchus): A big raptor of lowland and montane broadleaf and blended forests, this species is well-known for its tendency to congregate in giant flocks of as much as hundreds throughout migration. Resident populations inhabit tropical forests from lowlands up into montane areas. Whereas displaying appreciable plumage variation all through its vary, the mixture of an unusually small and slender head, lengthy striped tail, broad wings, and well-striped underwings make this species pretty recognizable throughout a large space. True to its identify, this species is a raider of wasp and bee nests, though it prefers bee and wasp larvae over their honey. (supply: eBird)

2. In accordance with a Birds Korea Weblog publish ’Early July, Yeoncheon Imjin River Biosphere Reserve’ of July 20, 2025, “4 have been seen in whole at 2-3 places (together with one “new” summer season website), together with two seen collectively. Presumably three or extra pairs breed in Yeoncheon.”

3. The surveys by Birds Korea have recorded this species since 2022 with annual observations within the space close to Gunnam Dam since 2023.

Ⅲ. Statement and Evaluation Strategies

1. To supply clear proof of the breeding Crested Honey Buzzards in Yeoncheon in 2025, efforts have been made to safe as many images and movies as attainable, primarily with a Nikon P1000 digicam.

2. The realm close to Gunnam Dam, adjoining to the Civilian Management Zone, its surrounding mountain ridges together with the Imjin River, and Mount Gunja, supplies dependable alternatives to identify Crested Honey Buzzards each summer season.

3. This geographical benefit enabled constant monitoring of the close by resident Crested Honey Buzzards, largely via yard birding.

4. Throughout roughly 40 remark periods from Could 2 to October 18, a complete of 747 information recordsdata (624 steady pictures and 123 video recordsdata) have been collected. As well as, there have been 2 remark cases the place no media information was secured.

5. Modifications in plumage over time have been tracked, regardless of the suboptimal high quality of some pictures and movies.

6. Regardless of potential errors in figuring out people, solely a single pair and their younger have been recorded throughout the noticed breeding space through the breeding season.

7. The remark dates and captured pictures of the Crested Honey Buzzards in 2025 are supplied within the connected PDF file.

Ⅳ Crested Honey Buzzards in Yeoncheon, 2025

1. Breeding Pair and Their Younger

– The 2025 breeding schedule was estimated within the desk beneath by making use of an incubation interval of roughly 30–35 days and a nestling interval of about 40–45 days.

– The three furthest places the place adults have been noticed from the presumed nest website are indicated by yellow pins on the satellite tv for pc map, every located 3–4 km away from the presumed nest website.

2. Different People Indicating Breeding

– The grownup on the left was noticed twice inside a brief interval. It stays unsure whether or not a single particular person was noticed twice or two separate people have been noticed as soon as every. Presently, it was roughly one week earlier than hatching for the breeding pair close to Gunnam Dam, and the situation is greater than 13 kilometers away from their presumed nest website. Due to this fact, it seems more likely to be one other breeding pair.

– The juvenile on the suitable was being attacked by an Jap Buzzard at a reasonably low altitude alongside Nationwide Route #3. As a result of the juvenile close to Gunnam Dam was noticed solely as soon as throughout the territory on September 4, and the grownup male dad or mum was a darkish morph, there can be a chance that this darkish morph juvenile originated from the Gunnam Dam territory. This location is over 14 kilometers away from the presumed nest website. Nevertheless, on condition that it flew throughout the Nationwide Route towards Mount Godae to evade the Jap Buzzard’s assault, and contemplating that the ridges of Mount Godae in Daegwang-ri are recognized areas for summer season Crested Honey Buzzard sightings, additionally it is extremely possible that this juvenile was born within the neighborhood of Mount Godae. However, devoted observations weren’t performed within the Mount Godae space throughout 2025.

3. Passage Migrants

– A complete of 10–11 passing people have been noticed or heard in Yeoncheon through the autumn migration interval between September 22 and October 18. Ten of those have been noticed via yard birding, with most of them showing to be juveniles hatched in 2025. Notably, 5 people have been recorded for a couple of single hour on October 8, from 08:21 to 09:31.

Ⅴ Conclusion

– Yeoncheon has been confirmed as a breeding floor for Crested Honey Buzzards, with breeding pairs inhabiting the world and fledged people being noticed over latest years.

– This file from the 2025 breeding season confirms the breeding of Crested Honey Buzzards in Yeoncheon.

– As well as, the migration of Crested Honey Buzzards was additionally noticed through the autumn migration interval of raptors (predominantly Gray-faced Buzzards and Jap Buzzards).

[download] EngCHBuzzardRecord2025 (PDF)