An Endangered Animal Incident... Injured Osprey Found Dead

Discovered in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk... Wing Bone Fractured
Ministry of Environment Designated Endangered Wildlife Class 2 Protected Species

In Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, a second-class endangered wild species designated by the Ministry of Environment, a osprey, was found dead, prompting environmental authorities to launch an investigation.

On the 21st, Yonhap News reported that the previous afternoon, a National Institute of Biological Resources official discovered the carcass of an osprey near Gukdanggyo Bridge in Gukdang-ri, Gangdong-myeon, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk, while surveying the Hyeongsan River area. Gukdanggyo Bridge is located about 2 km away from the Hyeongsan River area in Yeonil-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, which is the osprey's fishing ground. At the time of discovery, the osprey's wing bone was broken as if it had suffered a strong impact, and its neck and body were stained with blood. The biological resources official estimated that the bird died from a strong impact to its left wing and head.

A crested serpent eagle, a Grade 2 endangered wild species designated by the Ministry of Environment, was found dead with injuries in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk.
[Photo by National Institute of Biological Resources, Yonhap News]

The osprey, a bird of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae, is a winter migratory bird mainly observed in Korea from September to November. Its body length is about 60 cm, and its wingspan is approximately 1.6 to 1.8 meters. The head is white with a dark brown line around the eyes, which is a distinctive feature. The upper body of the osprey is dark brown, and the underside is white. This bird is mainly found near coasts, rivers, and dams. It lives solitarily rather than in groups, hovering over water and then diving vertically at high speed to catch prey such as mullet and sea bass. After wintering in areas including the Hyeongsan River, the Nakdong River estuary, the Taehwa River, Namdaecheon in Gangneung, Gangwon, and rivers in Gyeongsangnam-do, it returns to its native regions such as Russia.

The osprey is a species protected as a second-class endangered wild species designated by the Ministry of Environment and is classified as Least Concern (LC) in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. However, its global population has been rapidly declining recently due to environmental pollution and habitat destruction.

The osprey (left) and the pelican are competing in fishing.

Many birdwatchers and ecological photographers nationwide visit the Hyeongsan River to observe or photograph the osprey's soaring and fishing behaviors. There are even 'osprey enthusiasts' who have been photographing the bird every year for several to dozens of years without fail. Currently, about 3 to 4 ospreys are reported to appear in the Hyeongsan River area. This is the first time that osprey carcasses have been found in the Hyeongsan River basin in Pohang and Gyeongju.