Middle School Student Who Loved Birdwatching Discovers 'Cheongdari Doyosachon' in Ulsan

First Official Discovery of a Bird Species Long Rumored While Birdwatching at 'Jjaekjjaek Rest Area'
Species with the World's Largest Population of 1,300 Individuals Found

A middle school student who enjoys birdwatching discovered the critically endangered wild species I 'Cheongdari Doyosachon' in Ulsan.

Ulsan City announced on the 31st that a middle school student observed and reported a Class I endangered wild species, the "Cheongdari Doyosachon," on the coastal area of Seosaeng, Ulju-gun. The photo shows the "Cheongdari Doyosachon" taken by the discoverer, Lee Seunghyun, a 3rd-year student at Ulsan Munsu Middle School. [Image source=Ulsan City]

On the 31st, Ulsan City announced that the critically endangered wild species I 'Cheongdari Doyosachon' was observed along the coast of Seosaeng, Ulju-gun. The city reported that it received a tip from Lee Seunghyun, a third-year student at Munsu Middle School, around 7 a.m. on the 26th and confirmed the sighting through an on-site inspection. Previously, the Seosaeng coastal area in Ulju-gun had seen the discovery of about ten rare and endangered bird species, including the Yellow-billed Egret, but this is the first time that Cheongdari Doyosachon has been confirmed. Until Lee captured it on camera, there were no records of Cheongdari Doyosachon visiting the Ulsan coast, only rumors of sightings.

Lee is active in the Ulsan birdwatching group 'Jjaekjjaek Rest Stop' and is known to be passionate about birdwatching, even attending school after birdwatching activities during the semester. It is known that he took an early morning bus to Seosaeng coast for birdwatching at the time of the report.

After receiving Lee’s report, the city, along with photographer Yoon Giduk, confirmed one individual Cheongdari Doyosachon feeding alongside Yellow-legged Sandpipers, Little Stints, Red-necked Stints, and Curlew Sandpipers on the rocky shore and documented it with photos and videos.

Ulsan City announced on the 31st that a middle school student observed and reported the critically endangered wild species Ⅰ, the "Cheongdari Doyosachon," on the coast of Seosaeng, Ulju-gun. The photo shows the "Cheongdari Doyosachon" taken by the discoverer, Lee Seunghyun, a 3rd-year student at Ulsan Munsu Middle School. [Image source=Ulsan City]

Cheongdari Doyosachon is an internationally protected species listed as Endangered (EN) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. It is also designated and protected as a critically endangered wild species I by the Ministry of Environment. It is estimated that only about 500 to 1,300 individuals exist worldwide, and it is a very rare migratory bird in South Korea. The name 'sachon' (meaning cousin) often causes confusion with the Blue-legged Sandpiper, but Cheongdari Doyosachon has a thicker bill that slightly curves upward and has a yellowish tint at the base (skin). Cheongdari Doyosachon feeds on crabs, small fish, and mollusks in sandbanks or tidal pools. It is known to quickly move to a safe place to eat the prey it catches.

Park Chanyeol, director of the Urban Forest Research Center at the National Institute of Forest Science and an ornithologist, explained, "It is very rare for Cheongdari Doyosachon to be observed in the East Coast region," adding, "This is possible because eco-friendly infrastructure and management policies provide diverse habitats for waterbirds." Hong Seungmin, head of 'Jjaekjjaek Rest Stop,' emphasized, "It is important to continue preserving the habitat so that birds can rest safely around the rocky shores of Seosaeng-myeon coast."