Eleven dates of Fixed Point Counts overlooking the runway area of the proposed Gadeok Do airport, Busan: an independent evidence-based assessment of bird migration and bird strike risk, Part 2

Dr Nial Moores, Director Birds Korea / 새와생명의터, Busan, March 2nd 2024. Posted online in August 2024.

2.3. Concluding Remarks

Our surveys confirm that large numbers of diurnal birds (species and individuals) migrate through Gadeok Do, including substantial concentrations of raptors and flocks of both large and small landbirds. It therefore seems likely that many nocturnal migrants will also cross the island (and the proposed runway area) during the main migration periods.

Based on their frequent presence and direct observations of their flocking behaviour combined with their mass, 13 species could be identified as “Very High” or as “High” risk species to aircraft. Two of these species (Oriental Magpie Pica serica and Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos) appear to be largely resident in the proposed airport area; the majority of individuals of the remaining species are likely either largely seasonal migrants or are complete migrants.  In order to try to assess and reduce the impacts of bird strike on aircraft and on bird populations, substantially more research is urgently required on bird migration through Gadeok Do throughout a complete year - before construction of the proposed airport starts. This research should include fixed point counts and targeted bird radar studies (e.g., as outlined by Panuccio et al. 2018).

Again, as stated by ICAO Section 2.2.4.6: “Wildlife surveys should cover the entire year to account for seasonal changes and should also consider different phases of the day.”  The assessments provided in MLIT (2023) are currently clearly inadequate.  Research for MLIT (2023) was not conducted through an “entire year” and research within the proposed airport area was not designed to adequately evaluate and monitor wildlife hazards (ICAO, Section 2.4.4.2). The level of survey effort within the proposed airport area itself was also somewhat limited in time or scope, as the maximum count of individual birds recorded during any survey was lower than on seven of our 11 dates of fixed-point counts – even though our counts did not include counts within forest or of birds on most of the sea area that will, as proposed, be in-filled during airport construction.

The research in MLIT (2023) did include multiple approaches. However, these research methods did not include “observation points” overlooking the actual proposed runway area to record “behaviour” as advised in ICAO (2020) Section 2.2.4.10 and as advised in the citizen’s opinion; and did not include radar studies of untagged birds.

Instead, MLIT (2023) appears instead to depend largely on tracking birds using GPS telemetry in their efforts to assess direction (and perhaps height) of flight. Fifty individual birds were at the core of this research effort (p. 993-996): two Black Kites Milvus migrans, three Large-billed Crows Corvus macrorhynchos, three Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus, four Eastern Spot-billed Ducks Anas zonorhyncha and 38 Black-tailed Gulls Larus crassirostris.  However, none of these 50 birds were fitted with locators within the proposed airport area itself. Instead, the Black Kites Milvus migrans and Large-billed Crows Corvus macrorhynchos, both of which are partly or largely resident in Busan, were fitted with locators >10km from the proposed airport area; the Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus and Eastern Spot-billed Ducks Anas zonorhyncha were fitted in the Nakdong Estuary; and the Black-tailed Gulls Larus crassirostris were fitted in late May and June 2023 on Hong Islet, >50km from the proposed airport area. The movements of these birds, while interesting to ornithologists, therefore provide remarkably little insight into any assessment of the risk of bird strike in the vicinity of the airport itself.

Based on the experience of our surveys and guidance in ICAO (2020), an appropriate level of research in preparation of the construction and operation of an international airport on Gadeok Do would, at the very minimum, require all-day surveys by two or three teams of experienced bird researchers within the proposed airport area. Such surveys should be conducted every day throughout the main migration periods (at least from August-November, and again from March to May), and be supplemented by weekly counts in other months throughout at least one entire annual cycle. These fixed point counts should then be combined with targeted bird radar studies, especially if flights are to be made at night-time. These research approaches in turn should be further supplemented by additional tagging of birds on Gadeok Do itself, within the proposed airport area.  Finally, research effort also needs to be increased substantially along the Geoje Coast and in the Nakdong Estuary, with detailed mapping throughout the year of daily / nightly and seasonal movements of large waterbirds and diurnal raptors in addition to transect-based mapping of occurrence.

As Busan City failed in its efforts to win the 2030 World Expo, there is no longer any obvious need for urgency to start and complete construction of the proposed Gadeok Do airport.  Instead, there is time to conduct appropriate research, in order to reduce impacts on biodiversity and to assess the risks of bird-strike carefully.  There is time too to assess the economic viability and social and environmental sustainability of this proposed airport and of those other airports in the ROK that currently run far below capacity.  With proper strategic planning, if found suitable some of these other airports could perhaps be used instead to build national flight capacity as part of more balanced regional development. There should also be time to hold more detailed planning discussions with other ministries and local governments and to share forecasts of environmental, economic and social costs of this airport in particular and of other proposed airports with the wider public, as befitting the remit of a genuine Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment conducted within a vibrant democracy.

If adequate research to reduce the risk of bird strike cannot for some reason be conducted; and if threats to biodiversity on Gadeok Do, out to 13km from the proposed airport cannot also be reduced (including to the internationally important Nakdong Estuary and Geoje coast), then it seems wholly appropriate to reconsider the proposal entirely in accordance with Principles 1 and 3 of the Fourth National Biodiversity Strategy (ROK 2018). 

The National Biodiversity Strategy was approved by multiple ministries and has its legal basis in Article 7 of the Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity.

Principle 1 of the ROK’s National Biodiversity Strategy (2019-2023), states that the Stragetgy’s aim is to “Ensure the conservation of quality ecosystems that cannot be replaced or restored (avoid their use in development areas)”; and Principle 3 recommends to “Reject project permit requests or impose restoration fees where restoration or alternative measures are not possible”.

Acknowledgements

Expenses for the research in 2021 and 2022 was supported by a small grant from KFEM; in 2023 research was kindly supported by a local group representative. Sincere thanks to all who participated in the counts, most especially Mr. Won Jong-tae (Dongmyong-Geoje KFEM) who participated in ten of the eleven dates of survey work; and Mr Lee Seon-Gun, Ms. Kim Hyun-Uk and Mr. Kim Heon-Seong. Thanks too to David Melville (in New Zealand), an ornithologist with extensive experience of bird research at airports and Geoff Carey (in Hong Kong), a bird strike specialist advisor to Airport Authority Hong Kong and Airport Authority Macau, who both provided comments which were helpful in improving the text.

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Appendix One. List of bird species recorded during 11 dates of Fixed-point Counts, Daehang, Gadeok Do (September 2021-February 2024)

	한글이름	National Monument # (NBC 2018)	National Conservation Status NIBR 2019)
Whooper Swan	큰고니	201-2	VU
Baikal Teal	가창오리		LC
Eastern Spot-billed Duck	흰뺨검둥오리
Mallard	청둥오리
Scaly-sided Merganser*	(비오리 /) 호사비오리	448	EN
White-throated Needletail	바늘꼬리칼새
Oriental Cuckoo	벙어리뻐꾸기
Oriental Turtle Dove	멧비둘기
Eurasian Coot	물닭
Great Crested Grebe	뿔논병아리		LC
Black-headed Gull	붉은부리갈매기
Black-tailed Gull	괭이갈매기
Common Gull	갈매기
Vega Gull	재갈매기
Mongolian Gull	한국재갈매기
Slaty-backed Gull	큰재갈매기
Taimyr Gull	줄무늬노랑발갈매기
Red-throated Loon	아비
Pacific Loon	회색머리아비
Cormorant sp.	가마우지 / 민물가마우지
Striated Heron	댕기해오라기
Grey Heron	왜가리
Great Egret	대백로
Osprey	물수리		VU
Crested Honey Buzzard	벌매		NT
Steppe Eagle	초원수리 (or 흰죽지수리)		(VU)
Chinese Sparrowhawk	붉은배새매	323-2	LC
Japanese Sparrowhawk	조롱이		VU
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	새매	323-4	LC
Eurasian Goshawk	참매	323-1	VU
Black Kite	솔개		VU
Grey-faced Buzzard	왕새매		LC
Eastern Buzzard	말똥가리		LC
Oriental Dollarbird	파랑새
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker	쇠딱다구리
Great Spotted Woodpecker	오색딱다구리
Grey-headed Woodpecker	청딱다구리
Common Kestrel	황조롱이	323-8
Amur Falcon	비둘기조롱이		NT
Eurasian Hobby	새호리기		LC
Peregrine Falcon	매	323-7	VU
Minivet sp	할미새사촌 / 류큐할미새사촌
Tiger Shrike	칡때까치
Bull-headed Shrike	때까치
Black-naped Oriole	꾀꼬리
Hair-crested Drongo	바람까마귀
Eurasian Jay	어치
Oriental Magpie	까치
Rook	떼까마귀
Large-billed Crow	큰부리까마귀
Japanese Waxwing	홍여새		NT
Coal Tit	진박새
Yellow-bellied Tit	노랑배진박새
Varied Tit	곤줄박이
Marsh Tit	쇠박새
Eastern Great Tit	박새
Eurasian Skylark	종다리		LC
Brown-eared Bulbul	직박구리
Light-vented Bulbul	검은이마직박구리
Barn Swallow	제비
Siberian House Martin	흰턱제비
Japanese Bush Warbler	섬휘파람새
Long-tailed Tit	오목눈이
Yellow-browed Warbler	노랑눈썹솔새
Dusky Warbler	솔새사촌
Japanese Leaf Warbler	일본솔새
Kamchatka Leaf Warbler	솔새
Arctic Warbler	쇠솔새
Vinous-throated Parrotbill	붉은머리오목눈이
Warbling White-eye	동박새
Goldcrest	상모솔새
Eurasian Wren	굴뚝새
White-cheeked Starling	찌르레기
Grey-backed Thrush	되지빠귀
Pale Thrush	흰배지빠귀
Dusky Thrush	개똥지빠귀
Grey-streaked Flycatcher	제비딱새
Daurian Redstart	딱새
Blue Rock Thrush	바다직박구리
Russet Sparrow	섬참새
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	참새
Siberian Accentor	멧종다리
Grey Wagtail	노랑할미새
White Wagtail	알락할미새
Olive-backed Pipit	힝둥새
Pechora Pipit	흰등밭종다리
Buff-bellied Pipit	밭종다리
Brambling	되새
Hawfinch	콩새
Chinese Grosbeak	밀화부리		LC
Grey-capped Greenfinch	방울새
Red Crossbill	솔잣새
Eurasian Siskin	검은머리방울새
Pine Bunting	흰머리멧새
Meadow Bunting	멧새
Rustic Bunting	쑥새
Yellow-throated Bunting	노랑턱멧새
Chestnut Bunting	꼬까참새
Black-faced Bunting	촉새
Masked Bunting	섬촉새

*Either Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus or less likely female Common Merganser Mergus mergus.

Appendix Two. Strike Threat Assessment based on 11 dates of fixed point counts, Daehang, Gadeok Do, Busan.

11 Dates of Fixed -point Counts	A Observed Number of Crossings	B Observed Flock Size	C Mass	Points calculation	Severity of Risk
Number of Points by Attribute	1 – 2    = 1	1-2   =    1	<50 g    =     1	A X B X C	1-5=     Very Low
	3 – 6   = 2	3-14   =    2	51-200g=    2		6-20=   Low
	7 or more = 3	15-100 =    3	201g-1kg = 4		21-30= Moderate
		101-1000 =     4	>1kg   =       6		31-40= High
		>1000 = 5			>41= Very High
Baikal Teal	1	1	4	1x1X4=4	VERY LOW
Eastern Spot-billed Duck	1	1	6	1x1X6= 6	LOW
Mallard	1	3	6	1x3x6= 18	LOW
Scaly-sided Merganser*	1	1	6	1x1x6 =6	LOW
White-throated Needletail	2	3	2	2x3x4= 24	LOW
Oriental Cuckoo	1	1	2	1x1x2 =2	VERY LOW
Oriental Turtle Dove	3	3	4	3x3x4= 36	HIGH
Eurasian Coot	1	1	6	1x1x6 =6	LOW
Black-headed Gull	1	2	4	1x2x4= 8	LOW
Black-tailed Gull	3	2	4	3x2x4=24	MODERATE
Common Gull	2	1	4	2x1x4=8	LOW
Vega Gull	3	3	6	3x3x6= 54	VERY HIGH
Mongolian Gull	3	2	6	3x2x6=36	HIGH
Slaty-backed Gull	2	1	6	2x1x6=12	LOW
Taimyr Gull	3	3	6	3x3x6= 54	VERY HIGH
Pacific Loon	1	1	6	1x1x6=6	LOW
Great Cormorant	3	2	6	3x2x6=36	HIGH
Striated Heron	1	1	2	1x1x4 =4	VERY LOW
Grey Heron	3	2	6	3x2x6=36	HIGH
Great Egret	2	1	6	2x1x6=12	LOW
Osprey	3	1	6	3x1x6=18	LOW
Crested Honey Buzzard	2	1	6	2x1x6=12	LOW
Chinese Sparrowhawk	3	5	3	3x5x4=60	VERY HIGH
Japanese Sparrowhawk	3	1	2	3x1x4=12	LOW
Eurasian Sparrowhawk	3	2	4	3x2x4=24	MODERATE
Eurasian Goshawk	3	1	6	3x1x6=18	LOW
Black Kite	3	2	6	3x2x6=36	HIGH
Grey-faced Buzzard	3	3	4	3x3x4= 36	HIGH
Eastern Buzzard	3	2	6	3x2x6=36	HIGH
Oriental Dollarbird	1	1	2	1x1x4=4	VERY LOW
Common Kestrel	3	1	4	3x1x4=12	LOW
Amur Falcon	1	1	2	1x1x4=4	VERY LOW
Eurasian Hobby	3	1	4	3x1x4=12	LOW
Peregrine Falcon	3	1	6	3x1x6=18	LOW
Black-naped Oriole	2	2	2	2x2x2=8	LOW
Oriental Magpie	3	3	4	3x3x4= 36	HIGH
Rook	3	4	4	3x4x4=48	VERY HIGH
Large-billed Crow	3	3	4	3x3x4= 36	HIGH
Japanese Waxwing	1	2	2	1x2x2= 4	VERY LOW
Coal Tit	1	1	1	1x1x1=1	VERY LOW
Yellow-bellied Tit	1	1	1	1x1x1=1	VERY LOW
Eastern Great Tit	1	1	1	1x1x1=1	VERY LOW
Eurasian Skylark	1	2	1	1x2x1=2	VERY LOW
Brown-eared Bulbul	3	4	2	3x4x2=24	MODERATE
Light-vented Bulbul	3	3	1	3x3x1=9	LOW
Barn Swallow	3	2	1	3x2x1=6	LOW
Siberian House Martin	1	1	1	1x1x1=1	VERY LOW
Warbling White-eye	1	2	1	1x2x1=2	VERY LOW
White-cheeked Starling	1	2	2	1x2x2= 4	VERY LOW
Dusky Thrush	1	1	2	1x1x2=2	VERY LOW
Grey-streaked Flycatcher	1	1	1	1x1x1=1	VERY LOW
Russet Sparrow	1	3	1	1x3x1=3	VERY LOW
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	3	3	1	3x3x1=9	LOW
Siberian Accentor	1	1	1	1x1x1=1	VERY LOW
Grey Wagtail	2	1	1	2x1x1=2	VERY LOW
White Wagtail	3	1	1	3x1x1=3	VERY LOW
Olive-backed Pipit	3	2	1	3x2x1=6	LOW
Pechora Pipit	1	1	1	1x1x1=1	VERY LOW
Buff-bellied Pipit	2	1	1	2x1x1=2	VERY LOW
Brambling	2	3	1	2x3x1=6	LOW
Hawfinch	1	1	2	1x1x2=2	VERY LOW
Chinese Grosbeak	2	2	2	2x2x2=8	LOW
Grey-capped Greenfinch	2	1	1	2x1x1=2	VERY LOW
Red Crossbill	3	3	1	3x3x1=9	LOW
Eurasian Siskin	3	3	1	3x3x1=9	LOW
Rustic Bunting	1	1	1	1x1x1=1	VERY LOW
Yellow-throated Bunting	3	2	1	3x2x1=6	LOW
Chestnut Bunting	1	1	1	1x1x1=1	VERY LOW