Korean Job Discussion Forums

[I-am-me]

I don't mean the pretty 2 legged female types. Where are the birds with feathers? I spent 4 days at Mt Jirisan and only saw one bird and heard one other in a distant tree. I covered a lot of hiking trails and was surprised there werent more birds. It was a bit eerie when you stopped to listen. No sound!. Anyone have some info about this phenomenon? Does korea have a shortage of birds?

[oneofthesarahs]

There are loads of birds where I live. Mostly sparrow types, but there are also some larger birds that make a helluva racket outside of my classroom window every day. We also have a bunch of what I assume are cranes or egrets of some sort, especially around the rice paddies.

[butlerian]

I thought you were referring to girls there for a second...but from what I gather that's only a British thing.

[caniff]

[kat2]

Tons of noisy magpies down here in Busan. And of course pigeons and seagulls. But you are right in that there aren't a lot of songbirds/wildbirds like I'm used to in the states. Perhaps they went the way of most other wildlife on the peninsula--straight into a starving Korean belly after the war.

[kermo]

[RACETRAITOR]

They're all outside my windows taunting my cats.

[KumaraKitty]

You have seen the many chicken-on-a-stick stands in Korea haven't you?
I see many little sparrows, magpies and pigeons around Bucheon. Usually in the park. I take my kitty to the park sometimes on her leash, she loves to try and catch the birds. She never comes close though!

[VirginIslander]

Come to the beach. And see all the trash these people leave in the sand. Paper, plastic, chichen bones, beer cans, toys, soda bottles, fire works, --its a disgrace and its one my biggest issues with Korea (and Trinidad).

I have yet to see a flock of seagulls.

[I-am-me]

[flummuxt]

For there to be birds there have to be critters for birds to eat. Like mosquitoes. Korea does a relatively good job of killing mosquitoes.

Or like worms. Seen any earthworms around?

They seem to have spread insecticide granules around my apartment. Don't see any insects here.

Did see a whole bunch of dragon flies for about a week.

And one big black and white bird.

We are living in Rachel Carson's nightmare, and the conservative nut cases' fantasy world.

[dogshed]

[kiwiduncan]

The really limited bird life is one of the most depressing things about Korea. I'm guessing the overuse of insecticides and other chemicals would play a part in it. But on a more positive side people in Korea are paying much more attention to the problem than in the past, and I've heard things are improving. Namsan for example has a great deal more moss and insect life than 10 years ago, and the Han river has improved a lot.

The amount of litter on Korean beaches can be pretty awful sometimes

[VanIslander]

[Beej]