• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.266-274
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• 2017

We surveyed the habitat use and food materials of the endangered Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) during the wintering period at the Seocheon tidal flat. The bird wintered about six months from October 2014 to early April 2015 at the flat. They showed a remarkable change in choosing their feeding habitat and prey. They stayed entirely at sedge grass patches on Songrim tidal flat during the early wintering period (October), while after November they gradually moved to Janggu bay and used rice paddy fields as well as sedge patches on the tidal flats as their feeding site. The dietary analysis showed the sedge grass (Bolboschoenus sp., Cyperaceae) was the main dietary source during the entire wintering period. Interestingly, the proportion of Cyperaceae on feces decreased slightly over wintering time, while the proportion of Fabaceae increased relatively since November. These results suggest that the Swan Geese switched their habitat and food sources in response to the change of food availability. The Seocheon tidal flat area is the important wintering site for Swan Geese and sedge grass patches in the area need to be managed as the main feeding area for the wintering Swan Geese.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.86-99
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• 2010

Among Natural monument birds, a total of 11 species and 2,209 individuals were found in Nakdong river estuary from March 2007 to February 2008 including Eurasian Oystereacher (Haematopus ostralegus; No. 326), Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata; No.327), Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus; No.201-1), Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus; No.201-2), Black-faced Spoonbilll (Platalea minor; No.205-1), Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia ; No.205-2), Steller's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus; No.243-3), White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla ; No.243-4), Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus; No.323-6), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus; No.323-8) and Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides; No.325-1). Among the habitats for migratory birds in Korea, the Nakdong river estuary is the only place where more than 2,000 individuals of Whooper Swan(Cygnus cygnus) spend winter. Eulsukdo, Myeongji Flat and neighboring tidal flats (Myeonggeummeori, Baikhapdeung, Doyodeung, Jangjado, etc.) are major habitats for natural monument birds such as Eurasian Spoonbill(Platalea leucorodia ), Whooper Swan(Cygnus cygnus) and Swan Goose(Anser cygnoides). A colony of aquatic plants such as Common Bulrush(Scirpus triqueter) and Common Reed(Phragmites communis) serves as a feeding and resting place for birds in the Anatidae family including ducks, swans and geese. Plans for management and conservation of the habitats and the natural monument birds in Nakdong river estuary are as follows: minimization of water contamination, construction and management of aquatic plants habitats, protection of sandbanks, security of stable habitats, and consistent monitoring.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.685-691
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• 2016

Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) that parasitize the globally threatened swan goose Anser cygnoides have been long recognized since the early 19th century, but those records were probably biased towards sampling of captive or domestic geese due to the small population size and limited distribution of its wild hosts. To better understand the lice species parasitizing swan geese that are endemic to East Asia, we collected chewing lice from 14 wild geese caught at 3 lakes in northeastern Mongolia. The lice were morphologically identified as 16 Trinoton anserinum (Fabricius, 1805), 11 Ornithobius domesticus Arnold, 2005, and 1 Anaticola anseris (Linnaeus, 1758). These species are known from other geese and swans, but all of them were new to the swan goose. This result also indicates no overlap in lice species between older records and our findings from wild birds. Thus, ectoparasites collected from domestic or captive animals may provide biased information on the occurrence, prevalence, host selection, and host-ectoparasite interactions from those on wild hosts.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2022

The debate of South-North transboundary rivers must be expanded from the existing cooperation in water resources towards cooperation within ecosystem conservation. Regarding the Han and Imjin rivers confluence water system, the nature of the estuarine ecosystem must be conserved considering the aspect of climate change. Furthermore, the agenda of maintaining continuous inter-Korean communication and cooperation should focus on ecosystem conservation, including conserving migratory species that inhabit both Koreas. Notably, within the Han and Imjin rivers confluence, transboundary rivers are abundant legally protected species such as Grus vipio, Anser fabalis, Anser cygnoides, Platalea minor, Lutra lutra, Prionailurus bengalensis which suggests a strong need for a debate regarding habitat conservation. This study analyzed the ecosystem conditions and environmental aspects within the confluence of Han and Imjin rivers. In addition, this study provided step wise approach of ecosystem conservation that consider conditions for potential direct inter-Korean cooperation. The inter-Korean cooperation mentioned in this study will be developed into legitimate cooperation once the results from monitoring the ecosystem of transboundary rivers, awareness raising are exchanged.