• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.168-177
• /
• 2019

This study was conducted to examine the impact of various environmental factors on the feeding behavior of black-faced spoonbills Platalea minor known to use rice fields during the breeding season. We surveyed the rice fields three times a month from April to June 2017 and from April to June 2018. We counted the number of black-faced spoonbills and measured the environmental factors such as the water depth, paddy type by cultivation stage, and biomass of potential prey that are expected to affect black-faced spoonbills. We also filmed the feeding behavior of black-faced spoonbills to examine differences in feeding behavior by environmental factors. The survey showed that the number of black-faced spoonbills reached its peak from late April to late May which was the breeding period. Among a total of 308 black-faced spoonbills observed, 86.4% (n=266) were observed feeding on rice paddies, 90.6% (n=279) were adults, and none was observed on dry paddies. The biomass of rice paddy increased significantly since May when fish started hatching, and there was a significant difference in the amount of biomass between the rice paddies where black-faced spoonbills were observed and other rice paddies. The analysis of the feeding behavior of black-faced spoonbills showed that the feeding efficiency and feeding success rate of black-faced spoonbills increased significantly when the amount of biomass soared and that the number of steps of black-faced spoonbills per minute increased greatly after rice planting was completed. The number of bill sweeping was not related to the feeding efficiency, feeding success rate, and paddy type by cultivation stage.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.703-709
• /
• 2015

A breeding pair of the Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor was firstly recorded on Chilsando Islands, Younggwang, Jeollanamdo Province in 1991. Since the mid 2000s, breeding population on the breeding sites has gradually increased. This study was conducted to identify breeding status and nest site characteristics of the species from May to August, 2013 on Chilsando Islands. We recorded number of nests, length and width of the nest base, slope around the nests, nest materials, distances from the nearest nest, presence of nest cover and nesting area. In 2013 breeding season, 25 of 49 nests produced at least one successful fledging. A total of 55 youngs were successfully fledged and number of fledging per nest was 2.20 individuals. Nesting area was $77.8m^2$ and $93.4m^2$ for Sansando and Yuksando Islet, respectively. Soil and soil mixed with tree root were preferred for substrate of nest base over rock and Brassica napus was dominantly selected as nest materials by Black-faced Spoonbills. Nest characteristics of 22 nests in Sasando and Yuksando Islet varied $49.59{\pm}6.53cm$(mean${\pm}$SD) for length of nest base, $41.00{\pm}5.82cm$ for width of nest base, $20.85{\pm}9.96^{\circ}$ for slope above the nest, $34.09{\pm}17.75^{\circ}$ for slope below the nest and $130.82{\pm}84.17cm$ for distances from the nearest nest. Fifteen pairs (68.2%) occupied where nest cover existed. Nest cover were located in front of the nest for 5 pairs, back of the nest for 9 pairs and both front and back of the nest for 1 pair.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.86-99
• /
• 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
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.513-520
• /
• 2014

Three echinostome species, i.e., Patagifer bilobus, Petasiger neocomense, and Saakotrema metatestis, are newly recorded in the trematode fauna of the Republic of Korea. They were recovered from 3 species of migratory birds (Platalea minor, Podiceps cristatus, and Egretta garzetta), which were donated by the Wildlife Center of Chungbuk (WCC) and the Conservation Genome Resource Bank for Korean Wildlife (CGRB). Only 1 P. bilobus specimen was recovered from the intestine of a black-faced spoonbill (P. minor), and characterized by the bilobed head crown with a deep dorsal incision and 54 collar spines. Twenty P. neocomense were recovered from the intestine of a great crested grebe (P. cristatus), and they had a well-developed head crown with 19 spines and 2 testes obliquely located at the posterior middle of the body. Total 70 S. metatestis were collected from the bursa of Fabricius of 1 little egret (E. garzetta). It is characterized by stout tegumental spines covered in the entire leaf-shaped body, posterior extension of the uterus, presence of the uroproct and a well-developed head crown with 12 pairs of collar spines on each side. By the present study, these 3 echinostome species are newly added to the trematode fauna in Korea.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.115-121
• /
• 2002

Yubu Island is located within the estuary of the Geum River, South Chungcheong Province $(35^{\circ}59'N,\;126^{\circ}36'E)$, Korea. The island is surrounded by a broad and sandy mudflat, which is typical in the west coast of Korea, and is located 4km off from Gunsan City. Less than 100 humans live on the island, occupying 30 houses. After we discovered that this island was a very important waterbird habitat especially for the East Asian subspecies of the Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus osculans. Waterbirds were monitored once every month from August 1999 to July 2000. The highest number of oystercatchers counted was 3,200 in December 1999, and the birds seemed to remain in the area continuously from September to next February. About 200 breeding and non-breeding birds remained during the breeding season. In August, early migrants returned to the island, with the number reaching 1,060 individuals. This island is also very important for other waterbirds. Endangered or significant species occurring at this site, and their maximum counts were: chinese egret Egretta eulophotes (5), black-faced spoonbill Platalea minor (17), brant Branta bernicla (1), common shelduck Tadorna tadorna (8,000), hooded crane Grus monacha (2), spoon-billed sandpiper Ewynorhynchus pygmeus (7), dunlin Calidris alpina (6,500), great knot Calidris tenuirostris (24,000), far eastern curlew Numenius madagascariensis (2,500), spotted greenshank Tringa guttifer (4) and Saunders's gull Larus saundersi (1,200). During the 12 month survey period, we observed 52 waterbird species and the total of the maximum counts for the separate species was 73,308, implying that perhaps 150,000 birds could be using the immediate area, if a turnover rate of 2 was assumed.