Forest of Common Camellias and Breeding Ground of Fairy Pittas in Hakdong-ri, Geoje

The common camellia belongs to the tea family and is distributed across Korea, Japan, China and other warm regions; in Korea it grows along the southern coast and on the islands. Its flowers are red and open in early spring, and are considered very beautiful; depending on the season in which they bloom, they are called spring camellia, autumn camellia or winter camellia. The fairy pitta breeds across a range extending from India and the Indochina peninsula to New Guinea and Australia, as well as in China, Korea and Japan, migrating elsewhere to spend the winter. It is a small bird, 18cm in length, and builds a roughly made nest of twigs in dark rock crevices or on rocks within dense forest. The bird is rarely seen by people, though it is said to be readily drawn out by whistling an imitation of its call. The Forest of Common Camellias and Breeding Ground of Fairy Pittas in Hakdong-ri, Geoje lies along the ridge of Nojasan Mountain. The breeding ground has a relatively steep slope scattered with rocks and, being a humid forest in summer, provides ideal conditions for the fairy pitta to breed. The camellias that grow abundantly here, together with other trees, create an environment well suited to the bird's habitation. The camellia forest and fairy pitta breeding ground at Hakdong, Geoje is one of Korea's representative sites for fairy pitta breeding; the camellia forest not only provides a suitable environment for the bird but is also one of Korea's representative camellia forests, and the site is accordingly designated and protected as a natural monument.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Geoje, Gyeongnam

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물