Subject: Korea Bird Memoirs #2
Date: May 24 16:42:16 1997
From: Phil Hotlen - n8540420 at animal.cc.wwu.edu



Note: This is the third of three renamed, retyped, and revised replies I
sent to "Seoul and Flowers" of May 8, 1997. (posted out of sequence)


This time I am going to assume that an interested person or party cannot
get ahold of the necessary field guides and reference books. I suggest
two ways to go in solving this problem, with both used together giving
you ideal results.

The first is to purchase the book(s) locally, in the local or regional
language if necessary. Scientific names would be recognizable, regardless.
Then study up in your hotel room, etc.

The second is to use a "one-on-one" approach. The book I recommended
earlier: "The Birds of Korea" (1971) by M.E.J. Gore and Won Pyong-Oh
can be used as a starting point. Gore was attached to the British Embassy
in Seoul. Also, this book was published by the Royal Asiatic Society,
Korean Branch, in conjunction with a Korean publisher. The British have
long been the world's most avid birders, in the opinion of many.
Therefore, one should be able to make initial contact at the British Embassy
asking for the Royal Asiatic Society, and arrange for a personal local
guide, e.g. university student(s). The co-author is/was at the Institute
of Ornithology, Kyong Hee University, Seoul. The possibilities might be
endless! With luck, there may be a newer edition of "The Birds of Korea"
out by now.

One species, the Crested Lark (Galerida cristata), is not found in my
Japan field guide, and apparently not found in Japan. It is a bird often
encountered along dusty roads near villages (as well as found in Germany,
etc.). In "The Birds of Korea", it is pointed out that the Crested Lark
is declining due to being a target of air rifles. That is a major
problem all over the Third World! See the book "Birds of Bali", for a sad
example. I am concerned that the colorful Bee-Eaters(spp.),
Kingfishers(spp.), Red Turtle Doves, et al. near rural villages in
Vietnam that I was lucky to observe will suffer the same fate, now that
teenage boys presumably will soon be able to afford air rifles. Looking
at it from a selfish point of view, there then will not be much to see
when ecotourism catches up to Vietnam. Vietnam has great birds and great
birding potential, as some of you veterans must know from first-hand
experience!

One summer species to keep your eyes open for in Korea is the Black-Naped
Oriole (Oriolus chinensis). A bird of the deciduous canopy, it is
usually easiest to spot in stands of tall poplars, etc. I repeated saw
and heard a bright yellow male in Taegu at Camp Henry, where it conveniently
staked out its claim in the tall trees behind the mess hall! At the
time I thought it was probably the same species as the Golden Oriole
(O. oriolus) of Europe. But, later on, the book said otherwise.


So long.

Phil Hotlen
Bellingham, WAshington
USA