Suncheon City to operate the 'Hooded Crane Birdwatching Tour' from the 10th

【Financial News, Suncheon = Hwang Tae-jong, reporter】Suncheon City will operate the 'Hooded Crane Birdwatching Tour' from the 10th, offering an opportunity to experience both the beautiful natural environment of Suncheon Bay and the ecology of the Hooded Crane.  
 According to Suncheon City on the 3rd, after three Hooded Cranes first arrived at Suncheon Bay on October 20, their numbers rose rapidly to about 1,500 as of the 2nd, marking the start of wintering.
 In particular, winter migratory birds have continued to arrive at Suncheon Bay, including not only Hooded Cranes but also two Geomeunmok Durumi cranes, three Whooper Swans, and various geese, creating the bay's winter scenery.  
 The city has therefore decided to offer the 'Hooded Crane Birdwatching Tour' as a city tour program, allowing participants to observe Hooded Cranes in flight and feeding up close with guidance from a professional guide and experience the ecology of Suncheon Bay firsthand.
 A Suncheon City official said, "In winter, Suncheon Bay is a special place where various migratory birds, including Hooded Cranes, stay," and added, "We hope the 'Hooded Crane Birdwatching Tour' will give visitors a special opportunity to enjoy the beautiful winter scenery, connect with nature, and experience Suncheon's ecological value and the romance of winter."  


 The 'Hooded Crane Birdwatching Tour' runs once a day, Tuesday through Sunday, every week. Participants can board the bus at the city tour stop in front of Suncheon Station. The fares are 20,000 won for adults, 18,000 won for youths and seniors, and 15,000 won for children.  
 More information about the program is available on the Suncheon Travel website, and reservations can be made by scanning the QR code on the promotional material.
 A Suncheon City official said, "Visitors who finish the birdwatching experience will walk through the vast reed fields, admire winter migratory birds and Suncheon Bay's beautiful natural scenery, and have time to reflect on the value of nature."  
 Meanwhile, Suncheon Bay is a wintering ground for migratory birds with a richly endowed ecological environment where tidal flats connect with surrounding farmland. Last year, a record 8,600 Hooded Cranes wintered there, demonstrating its value as a world-renowned wintering ground for the species.
 This year, too, Suncheon City is managing feeding and resting areas in the Hooded Crane Hope Farming Complex so that migratory birds can spend the winter safely, and is stepping up quarantine measures to protect bird habitats and prevent avian influenza (AI).

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