Distribution, breeding status, and conservation of the black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) in South Korea

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the distribution and breeding status of the black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) for conservation and management purposes in South Korea. Breeding and stopover sites of the black-faced spoonbill were mainly in uninhibited islets off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula; wintering sites were observed on Jeju Island. Between April and July 2013, we observed 638 black-faced spoonbill nests along the west coast of the Korean Peninsula. Most of the nests were observed in the Gyeonggi Bay area, on Kujido Islet, Bido Islet, Namdong retaining basin, Youdo Islet, Suhaam Islet, Seomando Islet, and Maedo Islet, which were major breeding sites for these birds. It is essential to understand the distribution, breeding status, ecology, and habitat patterns of the black-faced spoonbill, based on existing data, for the conservation and management of this species. Long-term ecological research on the population dynamics of the black-faced spoonbill is needed to implement a successful conservation strategy.