Tidal Flat and Breeding Ground of Black-faced Spoonbills, Gwanghwa

The black-faced spoonbill is named for its distinctive habit of sweeping its spoon-shaped bill from side to side in search of food; because its bill also resembles a plough, it is sometimes called garise. As a globally rare species, the entire species is designated and protected as a natural monument. The Ganghwa tidal flat lies between the southern part of Ganghwa and the surrounding islands of Seokmodo and Boreumdo. It is one of the few remaining tidal flats in Korea still in good condition, and it is highly important both for its economic productivity and its natural purification capacity, serving as a treasure trove of the marine ecosystem. It also lies on a migratory route, serving as a stopover where birds that breed in Siberia and Alaska feed and rest while travelling on to Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and it is a breeding ground for the globally rare black-faced spoonbill. The Ganghwa Tidal Flat and Black-faced Spoonbill Breeding Ground covers 136 million pyeong, 52.7 times the area of Yeouido, making it the largest area ever designated as a single heritage site, and as one of the finest tidal flats in the world it is designated and protected as a natural monument to conserve the flat and safeguard the spoonbills' habitat. Within the site, the islets of Bido and Seokdo are designated as restricted-access areas to protect the breeding ground; access for management or academic purposes requires prior permission from the Administrator of the Korea Heritage Service.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Ganghwa, Incheon

Designation

Natural Monument · 천연기념물