Dr. Bernhard Seliger (Hanns Seidel Basis, Birds Korea)
Cheolwon is actually one of many biodiversity hotspots of the Korean Peninsula. Right here, the variety of cranes (principally White-naped cranes and Crimson-crowned cranes) regularly elevated within the final twenty years, partly attributable to feeding and offering an applicable habitat, partly additionally because of the lack of habitat elsewhere. I arrived early at daybreak from Seoul, struggling slightly bit from a drop of temperatures of virtually 10 levels between Seoul and Cheolwon.
Beginning at Baekmakoji, a conflict memorial – the rice fields of Cheolwon have been hotly contested within the Korean Warfare – I managed inadvertently to enter the Civilian Management Zone. In that space, whereas the large roads have the standard roadblocks and navy checks, this isn’t the case on the smaller agricultural roads. There have been even no indicators to not enter within the locations I’ve been, however lastly, after two hours, some troopers picked me up – very politely – and chaperoned me again out of the CCZ. The distinction in density of cranes inside and outdoors the CCZ is admittedly staggering – inside, nearly each paddy had a household of White-naped cranes or Crimson-crowned cranes or each one, outdoors they have been much more dispersed. It as particularly good to stroll slightly bit alongside Sangnyucheon stream, slightly stream with the embankment teaming with small birds, principally buntings and tits, and the place I additionally may see a Leopard cat and a looking Hen Harrier plus a Merlin.
Exterior the CCZ, the brand new facility alongside Hantang to watch cranes (on the steep value of 15.000 KRW per particular person) is now operational – once I got here within the early afternoon, there have been already round 200 White-naped cranes and two dozens of Crimson-crowned cranes feeding, plus a number of tons of of geese, principally mallards, but additionally round sixty Baikal teals. The Dokyo reservoir, now with a brand new remotely-operated entry by the navy (once more, with very well mannered troopers), had nonetheless a small open patch with assorted geese, and a single White-tailed eagle. Lastly, following the Hantan-river in the direction of Goseokjeong, some good views of Whooper Swans within the river.
It was an excellent begin for the New Yr with the fantastic setting and birds of Cheolwon.
You may see the complete chicken listing at: https://ebird.org/guidelines/S207609591
