Saunders’s Gull, Saundersilarus saundersi, which is one of the key species of EAAFP, has a small population of around 14,400 of mature individuals. Unfortunately, the population trend is still declining, so it was listed as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List. The species is only breeding in coastal wetlands of the Republic of Korea (Incheon Songdo Tidal Flat (EAAF145), around 630 pairs) and China (Shuangtai Hekou National Nature Reserve (EAAF004), Yangcheng National Nature Reserve (EAAF005), Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve (EAAF006)). It means that conservation effort is required urgently to safeguard this species.

©Haejin Park/EAAFP

To protect the Saunders’s Gull which breeds in Songdo, Incheon, Republic of Korea, a “Headstarting” approach was applied to secure the breeding population. This activity was to protect the previous eggs of Saunders’s Gull which were found breeding in Songdo from the other threatening factors such as predation by Raccoons or Magpies, so that the it would increase the breeding success of this breeding colony.

The Saunders’s Gull juveniles to be released © Haejin Park/EAAFP

After collecting 40 eggs from its 200 nests in May, they were incubated artificially. Eventually 34 chicks hatched. This high hatching rate of the hatch was 2 times higher than that in natural condition. Among those, 31 individuals fledged. For the last two months, these fledglings started to learn how to feed, to fly, and to recognize other mature species. At last, 15 individuals were selected to be released out to its original habitat at the Incheon Songdo Tidal Flat.