Pigeon on S. Korean island confirmed to have wintered on Japanese island
SEJONG, April 2 (Yonhap) -- A common wood pigeon passed the winter on a Japanese island after inhabiting the South Korean island of Ulleung in the East Sea last summer, a state-run think tank said Tuesday.
According to the National Institute of Ecology, affiliated with the environment ministry, its researchers discovered that the bird, which is about 40 centimeters long, had wintered on the island of Okinoshima, Shimane Prefecture, western Japan, through a study using a smartphone-based tracking device attached to a common wood pigeon living on the South Korean island.
Ulleung Island is South Korea's largest habitat for the common wood pigeon, a large species in the dove and pigeon family. About 500 individuals are found on the island during a breeding season that lasts from March through August. They are not present there during winter, however.
After attaching a WT 300 tracking device, developed in South Korea, to the bird from June 2017 to April last year, the researchers managed to acquire information on how the bird spent the winter season.
The information showed the bird flew from Ulleung Island on Sept. 20, 2017, and arrived on Okinoshima, about 280 kilometers in a straight line from the South Korean island, the same day.
After spending 208 days around the Japanese island, it came back to Ulleung Island on April 16, 2018, the think tank said.
The tracking system, which uses a smartphone network, is cost-effective. Its cost is only one fifth as much as a satellite tracking system and weighs 27 grams, paving the way for it to be widely utilized in ecological research operations.
namsh@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
1 BTS wins 6 prizes at 2021 Gaon Chart Music Awards
-
2 Samsung unveils new flagship phone with BTS, viral Korean act
-
3 For veteran idol U-know Yunho, it's all about giving his best
-
4 'Boy With Luv' becomes 2nd BTS music video to hit 1.1 bln views
-
5 Ex-BIGBANG member Seungri additionally indicted for inciting assault
-
1 Samsung unveils new flagship phone with BTS, viral Korean act
-
2 BTS wins 6 prizes at 2021 Gaon Chart Music Awards
-
3 S. Korea's military strength 6th in world, N. Korea at 28th: report
-
4 (News Focus) Anger mounts over deepfake porn targeting Korean female celebs; more than 330,000 sign petition
-
5 Ex-BIGBANG member Seungri additionally indicted for inciting assault
-
1 New virus cases rise from low plateau 1 year after COVID-19 outbreak
-
2 Wrapping up probe, prosecution dismisses most claims by Sewol ferry victims' families
-
3 U.K. flight ban extended by 1 week, arrivals from Brazil required to prove virus-free
-
4 Moon names Chung Eui-yong as new foreign minister: Cheong Wa Dae
-
5 (3rd LD) New infection cases under 400 for 2nd day; virus curve sliding downhill