Swallows return in spring, and geese come with fall. They have long been visiting Korea as the season changes.They are commonly known as the “messenger of newseasons” for us but their own appearance and wandering life also represents their fierce way to survive.Birds are telling us so many things that are as diverse as their looks and as many as people on this planet. Nevertheless,the one thing that will never change is that we should coexist together.The special exhibition “Migrants in the Sky” is designed to present the importance of migratory birds visiting Korea along with their diversity and lifestyle.
With the Seasonal Change
The seasonal migration of birds is the product of their instinct to find an area rich in food resources and adapt to changes in temperature for years. Korea has four seasons and temperate climate. As the seasons change, the living organisms that birds feed on undergo many changes as well.
Blue-and-White Flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Blue-and-White Flycatcher
(Cyanoptila cyanomelana)
Naumann's Thrush (Turdus naumanni) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Naumann's Thrush
(Turdus Naumanni)
Summer,
a Season of Festivals
With nature at its most abundant, Korea turns into a festive breeding ground for migratory birds from spring to summer. Forests, wetlands and shores also become rich in food resources for the birds as they keep busy all day finding their mates, building nests, incubating eggs and rearing their chicks. From passerine birds to raptors, many kinds of birds find forests their home. There are sufficient food like larva, fruits, or small animals for raising their chicks, as well as many branches and shadow to hide from the natural enemies.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Great Spotted Woodpecker
(Dendrocopos major)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Great Crested Grebe
(Podiceps cristatus)
They are excellent divers with fancy feathers on the back of their necks in summer.
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Peregrine Falcon
(Falco peregrinus)
Summer visitors (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Summer visitors
Ruddy Kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Ruddy Kingfisher
(Halcyon coromanda)
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Common Moorhen
(Gallinula chloropus)
Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Little Tern
(Sterna albifrons)
A Precious Stopover Site during their Long Journey
In spring and autumn, Korea provides good places to rest for many migratory birds that breed in far northern regions of Korea and fly southward for winter. In general, these birds are known to travel a surprisingly long distance; waders, for example, fly over 10,000km in one season. It is therefore critical for the birds to have stopover sites that provide resting places and forages. Remote islands in the sea and tidal flats along the west coast of the Korean Peninsula are precious stopover sites for those migratory birds.
Passage migrants (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Passage migrants
Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Eastern Curlew
(Numenius madagascariensis)
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Bar-tailed Godwit
(Limosa lapponica)
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus)
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Common Redshank
(Tringa totanus)
Pin-tailed Snipe (Gallinago stenura) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Pin-tailed Snipe
(Gallinago stenura)
Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Pacific Golden Plover
(Pluvialis fulva)
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Olive-backed Pipit
(Anthus hodgsoni)
Resting Places for Winter Visitors
While Korea's winter may seem uninviting to anyone for its prolonged chill, some birds travel to this land during those months for its relative warmth. Over the frozen lakes and rivers, in the seemingly barren fields, and on the bare branches of trees, migratory birds of all shapes and sizes can be spotted across the Peninsula, as they settle down and search for food until it is time to return to their breeding grounds in the north.
Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Oriental Stork
(Ciconia boyciana)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Great Cormorant
(Phalacrocorax carbo)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Mandarin Duck
(Aix galericulata)
Baikal Teal (Anas formosa) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Baikal Teal
(Anas formosa)
Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Bean Goose
(Anser fabalis)
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Whooper Swan
(Cygnus cygnus)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Mute Swan
(Cygnus olor)
Diverse types of feathers (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
One of the most distinct characteristics that makes birds different from other animals is that they have
feathers. The feathers aid in maintenance of shape and color, water proofing, thermal insulation and
most importantly, flight. Feathers are categorized into remiges, rectrices, contour feathers, filoplumes, down feathers and powder feathers.
Eggs (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Baikal Teal (Anas formosa) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Baikal Teal
(Anas formosa)
One of the most distinct characteristics that makes birds different from other animals is that they have
feathers. The feathers aid in maintenance of shape and color, water proofing, thermal insulation and most importantly, flight. Feathers are categorized into remiges, rectrices, contour feathers, filoplumes, down feathers and powder feathers.
Lady Amherst's Pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Lady Amherst's Pheasant
(Chrysolophus amherstiae)
Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Indian Peafowl
(Pavo cristatus)
Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
Tufted Puffin
(Fratercula cirrhata)
Tufted Puffin was collected near Duman River, Hamgyeongbuk-do in 1933 for the first time in Korea. The first specimen is currently stored in The Museum of Nature and Human Activity, Hyogo, Japan.
The Tufted Puffin here was rescued in Gochang, Jeollabuk-do in June, 2014. After its death, National Institute of Biological Resources made it into the specimen. This is the only mounted specimen of Tufted Puffin in Korea.
Types and process of migratory birds research
Migratory birds research mainly focuses on migration, community and ecology. After designing research plans, a study goes on both in the field and in the laboratory. All the researches are based on the field study, and then collected data are analyzed in the laboratory.
Discovering Secrets in the Migration of Birds by National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR)National Institute of Biological Resources
Specimen for research (study skin) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
There are two types of bird specimens; study skin and mounted skin. Study skins are simple forms made by researchers. They are suitable forms for storage and research. In comparison, mounted skins are made for display and education so usually in postures as if they are alive.
Artificial eyes of the birds (glass eyes) (2014/2014) by NIBRNational Institute of Biological Resources
The eyes of birds displayed here are artificial eyes. When a bird dies, its eyes are the first to lose its shape and color. So artificial eyes are used when making mounted specimens. The black part of the artificial eyes is the pupil, and the colored area around it is iris. Every bird has unique iris colors and patterns, and even the same species have different iris colors between adult and juvenile.
