On the afternoon of January 5, a red-crowned crane was spotted feeding on crabs in the tidal flats near Donggeomdo, Ganghwa County, Incheon. Designated as a Natural Monument, the crane spends winters in the Ganghwa tidal flats before migrating to its breeding grounds in Siberia.
INCHEON, Jan. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — Endangered red-crowned cranes, traditionally known to winter in the wetlands and rice fields of Gangwon Province’s Cheorwon Plain, are being spotted in increasing numbers in the tidal flats of Incheon. This shift has drawn attention from conservationists and ornithologists.
The Cheorwon Plain, with its abundant food resources and natural habitat, has long been a critical wintering site for the red-crowned crane, classified as a Class I endangered species in South Korea.
However, recent observations of cranes foraging and resting in the Incheon tidal flats suggest a growing preference for this region as a wintering ground.
A Rare and Iconic Species
Red-crowned cranes, measuring approximately 140 cm in body length, are known for their striking white feathers, black legs, and distinctive red crown.
These cranes, which migrate to South Korea from Siberia, northeastern China, and Mongolia, form tight family units and are monogamous.
On the afternoon of January 5, red-crowned cranes wintering in the tidal flats near Donggeomdo, Ganghwa County, Incheon, were seen foraging for food beside a discarded fishing net.
Their courtship displays, featuring synchronized calls with their beaks pointed skyward, are a highlight of their behavioral repertoire during the breeding season.
In South Korea, the cranes typically inhabit the rice paddies, millet fields, and cornfields of demilitarized and civilian-controlled zones in Cheorwon, Paju, and Yeoncheon. They rely on frozen reservoirs and sandbars along rivers for roosting.
Conservation Implications
The growing presence of red-crowned cranes in the Incheon tidal flats highlights the ecological significance of these coastal wetlands.
Experts emphasize the importance of protecting these habitats, which not only support the cranes but also serve as biodiversity hotspots for numerous species.
As migration patterns shift, South Korea’s role as a wintering ground for these endangered birds underscores the need for ongoing conservation efforts to safeguard their habitats across both inland and coastal regions.
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
