|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
|
 Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:58 pm Post subject: I'm a Bird Nerd-- are you? |
 |
|
In Canada, fall and spring were pretty exciting times for birdwatching: all sorts of weird visitors traipsing and hopping through backyards.
Since I came to Korea, my birdwatching has been limited to sparrows, magpies cranes, pigeons, doves and a couple other critters I can't put a name to, but there are apparently some spots in Korea where you can get a great view of the fall migration.
For example, the 2nd Tunnel at the DMZ is quite near a popular stop-over for our avian friends. I'd like to go out to one of these spots before it gets too cold. Is there anyone on this board that craves a little contact with nature, and wouldn't mind some time spent with this frog? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 9:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Say hello to your new friend....... I have been birding about 15 years...travelled all over korea in search as well..I have 212 different species for S.K., (out of about 490 ever recorded here).
Still, that required plenty of hard work to get up to...
PM me if you or anyone are keen on birding sometime (although I have to get a new telescope first)- or even if you just want advice on where to go in S. korea.
In the meantime, check out:
http://www.birdskorea.org/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 11:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| rapier wrote: |
Say hello to your new friend....... I have been birding about 15 years...travelled all over korea in search as well..I have 212 different species for S.K., (out of about 490 ever recorded here).
Still, that required plenty of hard work to get up to...
PM me if you or anyone are keen on birding sometime (although I have to get a new telescope first)- or even if you just want advice on where to go in S. korea.
In the meantime, check out:
http://www.birdskorea.org/ |
Holy Moly! Or as my students would say "Waaa! Aassa!" (will that get beeped?) I've never used a telescope, actually. I wouldn't call myself a birder, just a keen bird-nerd. Well, rapier, if you'd take me under your wing, I'd be much obliged.
When I read that first line, I heard Pacino's voice: "Say hello to my little friend!" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
J.B. Clamence
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 2:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
| rapier wrote: |
| Say hello to your new friend....... |
Is that supposed to be done with a Tony Montana Cuban accent? 
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
Dear Korean bird watchers. You'd know. I heard that the pheasant is indigneous to Korea. The pheasants shot in England on hunts are introduced. Seen lots of pheasants here, who look right at home.
And are there Eagles in Korea? I've seen lots of Eagles in Canada. Driving down from Yeongwal, a stretch of secondary highway running alongside a raging sort of river, with canyon walls, but it may have been a big hawk.
There used to be a kind of parrot in Korea. I've seen them in old pictures. I think it was green. Is that so? Who killed all the parrots? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 7:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
| captain kirk wrote: |
Dear Korean bird watchers. You'd know. I heard that the pheasant is indigneous to Korea. The pheasants shot in England on hunts are introduced. Seen lots of pheasants here, who look right at home.
And are there Eagles in Korea? I've seen lots of Eagles in Canada. Driving down from Yeongwal, a stretch of secondary highway running alongside a raging sort of river, with canyon walls, but it may have been a big hawk.
There used to be a kind of parrot in Korea. I've seen them in old pictures. I think it was green. Is that so? Who killed all the parrots? |
yes..the ring necked pheasant (phasianus colchicus) is native all over Eurasia...fairly common in Korean woodlands..colorful bird.
Eagles? I've only seen the White-tailed sea eagle, over the estuary in winter up near imjingak.took a day to get rewarding views of that, but magnificent as it dive bombed all the winter geese up there. Following that, The Stellers sea eagle is recorded every winter, (less than 10, at only selected sites through he whole country. The lesser spotted eagle winters down here, once again in similar small numbers, and occasionally the Eastern imperial eagle and Golden eagle are seen, usually as single vagrants on passage to somewhere else, maybe 1 or 2 a year, of each.
To see them..you need a proper telescope..and know the few good areas of unspoilt habitat left remaining..and the right time of year to find them. Generally, scarce. Like most birds in korea, due to the destruction of the wild, natural areas they need to live in.
Parrots? Never been recorded in korea, ever. except as a cage bird. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
Some kind of 'parroty-looking' bird. Have to check that out. Though I might be thinking of Taiwan. Hmm.
I saw what looked like a 'nuthatch' the other day. Soft grey on the back. Habit of walking up and down treetrunks pecking for insects, like a woodpecker. Sometimes walking upside down down a treetrunk. Looked about the same as the ones in Canada.
There's a really elegant kind of bird I've seen here. I'll try to describe it. It has long, white tailfeathers and looks really sleek. By sleek I mean long, thin, sharp wings. It's a songbird. When it flies it swoops and dips, perches. There's some contrast in its colouring.
I've also seen yellow, little birds. Bright yellow, striking.
I've heard a bird that 'meowed' like a cat. This was in the woods, and I got close enough to know the sound was coming from THAT bird. Maybe a 'mockingbird'? I had to wonder why a bird would mimic the sound of a cat? Scare off other birds and get the seeds, maybe. Would the mockingbird be grey/brown?
I've seen the 'san gah chi', or mountain magpie quite alot. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
Pheasants. Or 'gwong' in Korean (or is that grouse). Well pheasants have go to be the most ungainly flyers. They're a real, droopingly elegant spectacle. Flushed, squawking as it cranks away, tailfeathers lolling behind looking like work to lug around. How could nature create such a vulnerable creation? How it squawks as it 'escapes' flying not far away. If you can't see it (doubtful) you can sure hear where it's going.
I've 'told' kids that the crow, which Koreans dislike, is the smartest of birds. I don't know if that's true, do you?
Ravens. I haven't seen any in Korea I don't think, but in Canada, lots. They live to be seventy, I've heard. Once I was out treeplanting and one flew low overhead, checking me out. Lots of intelligence in that eye, glance. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 2:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| captain kirk wrote: |
I've heard a bird that 'meowed' like a cat. This was in the woods, and I got close enough to know the sound was coming from THAT bird. Maybe a 'mockingbird'? I had to wonder why a bird would mimic the sound of a cat? Scare off other birds and get the seeds, maybe. |
Sounds like you're talking about a bird I once spotted in Canada called... wait for it .... a catbird. It was a fabulous mimic, but every few phrases, it just went ahead and said "Meow". I listened to it tease the starlings for a while, but I couldn't find it for ages...
Apparently, they usually sit pretty deep in a hedge, but the easiest way to get a look at them is to give a little "Meow" yourself! They'll likely stick their head out to get a gander at who's in the neighborhood.
Maybe that's why they meow-- nothing to do with cats, but just a way for these chameleon-songed bird to recognize each other. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fidel
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Location: North Shore NZ
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Several years ago when I was living in Munjeong Dong apartments, I used to watch a small flock of big yellow and red birds nesting in the rear trees out the back of my apartment. Don't know what kind of birds they were, but they were beautiful.
There are stacks of Pheasants living down the Yangjae Stream area in Gangnam, I often flush them out when I'm walking. |
|
| Back to top |
| |
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
