From jlevin@u.washington.edu Wed Jun 29 08:51:51 PDT 1994
>From jlevin@u.washington.edu  Wed Jun 29 08:51:51 1994
Return-Path: <jlevin@u.washington.edu>
Received: from stein.u.washington.edu by wells.u.washington.edu
	(5.65+UW94.4/UW-NDC Revision: 2.30 ) id AA18999;
	Wed, 29 Jun 94 08:51:51 -0700
Received: by stein3.u.washington.edu
	(5.65+UW94.4/UW-NDC Revision: 2.30 ) id AA24146;
	Wed, 29 Jun 94 08:51:48 -0700
X-Sender: jlevin@stein3.u.washington.edu
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 1994 08:51:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joel Levin <jlevin@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Black-faced Spoonbill colony in Korean Demilitarized Zone (fwd)
To: Multiple recipients of list <consbio@u.washington.edu>
Message-Id: <Pine.3.89.9406290811.B21567-0100000@stein3.u.washington.edu>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 1994 09:30:24 +0700
From: Steven Feldstein <sbf@NOAACDC.COLORADO.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list BIRDCHAT
     <BIRDCHAT%ARIZVM1.BITNET@uwavm.u.washington.edu>
Subject: Black-faced Spoonbill colony in Korean Demilitarized Zone

During the recent tension between South Korea and North Korea, an
important ornithological discovery was made in the Demilitarized Zone
(DMZ). The DMZ is a narrow strip of land that separates the joint armies
of South Korea and the USA with that of North Korea. As this land is
essentially off limits to both sides, the DMZ has developed into
an excellent area for wildlife. In recent years, South Korean scientists
have asked for permission to visit the DMZ, but they have always been
turned down.

About three weeks ago, Professor Won, from the Institute of Ornithology
in Kyung Hee University in Seoul (Professor Won is the author of
the Field Guide to the Birds of Korea) found a nesting colony of
BLACK-FACED SPOONBILL on an island in the Han River which flows through
the DMZ. He observed this island from a location just to the south of
the DMZ. He estimates that there may be as many as 10 nesting pairs of
BLACK-FACED SPOONBILLS on this island.  This number and location may
be very important to the survival of this endangered species, as its
total world population is about 100 breeding pairs, and all of these birds
are found in the northwest part of North Korea, I believe.

I find it pretty amazing that in these scary times, an island between
these two huge armies contains a breeding colony of one of the more
endangered species of birds in Asia.

Steven Feldstein
University of Colorado
sbf@noaacrd.colorado.edu

.