“Protection of mudflat ecoactivity and the black-faced spoonbill”
2013 Songdo mudflat black-faced spoonbill jamboree hosted by Sunghwang-ri
Does everyone know the black-faced spoonbill?
The black-faced spoonbill has a unique appearance and can be recognized even from a long distance. The black-faced spoonbill is easily recognizable because it has a special habit in which it uses its beak that is shaped like a rice paddle to catch food by swaying it side by side underwater. It is said that it resembles the way a boatman rows his paddle.
The black-faced spoonbill is an endangered species that breeds in the South Sea. In 2010, there were only about 2,400 birds in existence. The black-faced spoonbill usually breeds in the Incheon Songdo southeast detention reservoir. However, mudflat reclamations, coastal road expansions, and construction pollution influx in the mudflat have severely threatened the black-faced spoonbill’s breeding and feeding in the area.
Therefore, in order to protect the black-faced spoonbill, Yeonsu-gu hosted under Incheon Environmental Movement Coalition’s supervision the “2013 Songdo mudflat black-faced spoonbill jamboree” for 2 days on November 29 and 30.
This event sought to increase the local resident’s interest in the black-faced spoonbill, which is a rare species, and the protected Songdo marshlands in addition to the overall natural environment. The event also aimed to discuss a continuous protection plan concerning such topics.
On the 29th, experts and civic groups participated in the “2013 black-faced spoonbill forum” under the theme “striving toward a mudflat, black-faced spoonbill, and city coexistence” with reports concerning the preservation of the black-faced spoonbill through advanced cases and experience careers at the Large Control Room in Yeonsu-gu office.
On the 30th, students from environmental clubs in the surrounding middle and high schools participated in the “2013 youth mudflat black-faced spoonbill forum” under the theme “Youth, dreaming of a an Incheon with flying black-faced spoonbill” with discussions regarding the black-faced spoonbill and mudflat ecosystem preservation and presentations.
Then, in the Yeonsu-gu office’s grand conference room, approximately 500 local residents participated in “2013 black-faced spoonbill experience forum(확인)” under the theme “Let us be friends, black-faced spoonbill” during which children sang songs about the black-faced spoonbill and there were poetry readings, plays, and other performances.
There were also various hands-on craft programs, such as black-faced spoonbill T-shirt, necklace, Sotdae making and black-faced spoonbill character accessory making.
Go Nam-seok, the Head of the Yeonsu-gu Office, stated that “I hope the Songdo mudflat black-faced spoonbill jamboree offers an opportunity to become interested in the protection of marshlands and the black-faced spoonbill in addition to spreading awareness of the necessity of protecting the ecosystem.” He also stated that "I hope to work together toward addressing climate change through means such as environment-friendly city agriculture.”
