• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2011

One of the most important habitats of Waterbirds in the west coast of Korea is Saemangeum and its mudflat, located within the estuary of the Dongji and Mankyung River. This study was conducted to clarify the community characteristics of wintering waterbirds in Saemangeum from November 2008 to February 2009. Waterbirds and Raptor are 69 species and 409,044 individuals by the sum of peak counts were recorded. We classified the wintering waterbirds into 14 groups of taxa based on the similar ecological attributes. The dominant species were Baikal Teal Anas formosa, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons, Greater Scaup Aythya marila. Greater White-fronted Goose was significantly positive correlated with survey period. Baikal Teal, Greater White-fronted Goose, Bean Goose, Greater Scaup, Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna were increased when compared with last report but Mallard, Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha, Dunlin Calidris alpina were no difference.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.165-169
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• 2006

As a Biodiversity Management Plan in S. Korea, barley fields are being prepared for the wintering migratory birds. However, the effectiveness of barley fields as a feeding habitat has not been evaluated. In 2003/04 wintering period, we installed exclosures in the barley fields to evaluate the waterfowl grazing effectiveness. Approximately 8,000 waterfowls used the Dongup Reservoir System and utilized the barley fields during the daytime. The white-fronted goose Anser albifrons occupied more than 90% of the all barley-feeding waterfowls. Waterfowls significantly impacted to the shoot density and biomass of barley. In the closed plot, barley shoot density gradually increased to $267{\pm}27/m^2$ in January, 2004. Shoot density in open plots (site 1) declined sharply from.15 December ($189{\pm}18/m^2$) to 5 January 2004 ($25{\pm}11/m^2$). However, barley shoot density in open plots (site 2) was stable in January 2004 because of human disturbances. The changes in barley biomass and shoot density showed similar trend in both open and closed plot. From the exclosure experiment, it was clear that barley fields were important feeding habitat for wintering waterfowls in this area. Further, human disturbances such as noise from traffic and other human activities (farming and hiking) had significant impact on waterfowls' grazing activity. Collectively, winter barley fields were effective for waterfowl feeding, but the location of barley fields should be carefully selected for the maximum utilization of the barley feeding.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2012

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infects a variety of birds with a wide range of clinical signs from asymptomatic to severe. During a 10-month period in 2011, a total of 1,024 sera from wild birds including 42 species of birds in 8 orders were collected and the seroprevalence of NDV in wild birds was evaluated by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Evidence of NDV infection was observed in 12.6% (129/1,024) of wild birds with a maximum prevalence reported in Mandarin duck (27.8%, 32/115) followed by Mallard duck (20.8%, 57/274), Spot-billed duck (11.9%, 36/303), Pintail (2.9%, 1/34), Black-tailed gull (2.9%, 1/34), White-fronted goose (1.8%, 1/56) and Common teal (1.4%, 1/69). None of the other 35 species of wild birds were antibody-positive for NDV. Mandarin duck, Mallard duck and Spot-billed duck showed high sero-prevalance of 12.2% to 42% during winter season (November to March). Our results indicate that Mandarin duck, Mallard duck and Spot-billed duck might be natural reservoirs for NDV in Korea and the prevalence of NDV infection in wild birds displayed a seasonal pattern with high prevalence of NDV in winter season (November to March).