10-05-2014, Songdo, South Korea

People gathered in front of the banner with their bird drawings

In a World Migratory Bird Day event organised with the support of EAAFP Secretariat, around 100 local people attended. It was a day blessed with glorious sunshine, and a great turn-out of local families, with children of all ages getting the chance to experience their local wildlife.

The day started with a lively introduction from Spike and Minseon from EAAFP Secretariat, which had the room up and flapping to experience what it must be like to be a migrating bird, flying long distance.  This was followed by an education session on migratory birds and the importance of the local wetlands in supporting many of them.

Children watching waterbirds

The assembled were split into groups for field visits to nearby Gojan tidal flats and the Namdong Reservoir which houses a 100 strong colony of breeding Black-faced Spoonbill each spring/summer. Despite a relatively low high tide we were able to see species including Mongolian Plover, Grey Plover, Red-necked Stint, Whimbrel and Saunders’s Gull. At Namdong, the Spoonbill did not disappoint, the views across to their island allowing sight of a number of young, already stumbling out of the nests alongside the fluffy grey chicks of the gulls they share the island with.

Everybody drawing birds they saw earlier

A picnic lunch was followed by drawing and cutting out the birds seen in the morning and placing them on banners depicting their different habitats.
Thanks must be given to the local NGOs (Incheon Federation for Environmental Movement, Green Incheon United, People for Black-faced Spoonbill Island, and Teacher’s Association for Protecting the Environment and Life) for their organisation and participation.