Breeding Ground of Sea Birds (Crested Murrelet, Swinhoe’s Storm- Petrel, and Streaked Shearwater) on Guguldo Island, Sinan

Guguldo Island lies about 2.5km from Soheuksando Island in South Jeolla Province, and is made up of Soguguldo Island, Gaerinyeo Rock and Daeguguldo Island. The coast is ringed by cliffs, exposed to a height of 30m above sea level, with steep slopes. The crested murrelet is found in the warm-current waters of Korea and Japan and is about 20cm long. Its forehead is black, its back dark grey and its belly white. It has a crest-like black band and, unlike other auklets, no stripe on its shoulder. It breeds in colonies on coasts and reefs, digging burrows in grassy areas to lay its eggs; in Korea, breeding has been confirmed only at this site. Swinhoe's storm-petrel is about 19cm long; in both sexes the whole body is dark brown, with a black bill and legs. Its nest, built in rock crevices or burrows on the island, is lined with dry grass and fallen leaves or made directly on bare ground. The streaked shearwater is about 48cm long; in both sexes the head and back are blackish grey, while the face, neck and belly are white. There are many white spots on the face and head, and the bill is greyish white. By day the birds gather far out at sea in flocks, returning to the breeding ground after dark. The seabird breeding ground on Guguldo Island is a resting place and breeding site on the migratory route of very rare summer birds such as the crested murrelet, Swinhoe's storm-petrel and streaked shearwater, and it is designated and protected as a Natural Monument for its high academic value. Guguldo Island, Sinan, is currently designated a restricted-access zone to protect the seabird breeding grounds; entry for management or research purposes requires the permission of the Administrator of the Korea Heritage Service.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Sinan, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물