Students from Incheon schools inquiring about Black-faced Spoonbill’s migration in the EAAF © EAAFP

The 2012 Black-faced Spoonbill Festival was held in Songdo, Incheon, Republic of Korea, on the 22nd of December 2012, organized by the Incheon Office of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement and Yeonsu-gu Office. The festival was open to everyone, and attracted several hundred people. The Black-faced Spoonbill Festival aims at teaching youngsters some bird-watching basics while educating citizens about the conservation and importance of the Black-faced Spoonbill. The Incheon area supports over 90% of all breeding Black-faced Spoonbills, which are dependent on tidal flats in the Incheon area for feeding. The youth forum began in the morning and ended by noon. It was followed by participation sessions in the afternoon. There were several interesting experience programs for citizens, for examples making Black-faced Spoonbill eco-bags, making cookies, folding papers into the shape of a black-faced spoonbill, fitting together puzzle pieces, taking pictures with Black-faced Spoonbill models, etc. The EAAFP Secretariat was invited to the event, set up a booth, and promoted its efforts in the conservation of the Black-faced Spoonbills and its leadership in international cooperation of the twenty-two countries that make up the East Asian – Australasian Flyway, including Australia, East Asian countries, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.