Surrounded by sea on three sides, the Korean Peninsula is a transit and a stopover for the birds in Northeast Asia.

Spoonbills, red-crowned cranes, Swinhoe's egrets and white-naped cranes fly to the peninsula in springs and autumns to hatch out or take feedings.

More than 45,000 to 50,000 birds stay in or transit the Mundok migratory birds' sanctuary, among which scores of species are extinctive and rare ones.

Some 180 species of birds were found in the sanctuary of September 18 Reservoir, with 180 to 200 spoonbills observed in late August-early September.

Mundok, Kumya, Ryongyon counties, Rason City and Sin Islet are designated as migratory birds' sanctuary.

Meanwhile, the DPRK government works hard to increase the citizens' care for protection of migratory birds.

It also strengthens international cooperation to better shelter the birds' habitats, marking World's Day of Migratory Birds each year.

Jong Yong Nam, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Nature Conservation Union of Korea, said the union would direct bigger efforts to sheltering distinctive and rare animals and plants, thereby contributing to the growth of natural resources.