Environment ministry reports spoonbill breeding range reaches south coast

The environment ministry said that black-faced spoonbill breeding pairs in South Korea climbed to about 3,300 in this year's nationwide survey from about 2,600 a year earlier.

Researchers at the National Institute of Ecology's Endangered Species Restoration Center attributed the increase in breeding pairs and the expanded range to continued habitat improvements and conservation efforts involving public and private partners. Since 2020, the institute has operated the Incheon Spoonbill Coexistence Council with relevant institutions, local governments and private groups, conducting detailed nationwide breeding-site surveys and habitat-improvement projects.

The survey confirmed the first spoonbill breeding site on the south coast at Janggu Island in Suncheon City near Suncheon Bay, expanding a range previously centered on uninhabited islands along the west coast. Breeding was also detected at Maedorang on Yeongjong Island, Incheon.

Black-faced spoonbills are classified as Class I endangered wildlife in Korea and internationally endangered. More than 90 percent of the global breeding population nests in Korea, and the species uses mudflats, estuaries, reservoirs and coastal freshwater wetlands.

Lee Chang-seok, president of the National Institute of Ecology, called the increase in breeding pairs and the first breeding on the south coast "a very meaningful result that shows the visible achievements of spoonbill conservation efforts." He added: "We will continue to work with relevant institutions and local communities to conserve the habitat of the internationally endangered species and restore its population."

The institute said it will intensify surveys of new breeding sites.