About 160,000 water birds of sixty species were recorded during the survey of more than 60 wetlands in Pyongyang City, South Phyongan, South Hwanghae, Kangwon and South Hamgyong provinces and other inland zones and the coasts.

Among them are red-crowned crane (EN), stork (EN), swan goose (VU), hooded crane (VU), long-tailed duck (VU), pochard (VU) and saunder's gull (VU), which were observed in wetlands of the east and west coasts.

In particular, more than 76,000 water birds were witnessed in Lake Sohaegapmun (West Sea Barrage) and more than 10,000 water birds in the September 18 Reservoir and the area of Kumsong Tideland. And swan goose, mute swan and other water birds, which are endangered and rare species accounting for over one percent of their total numbers in the world or the region, were observed in Hapho, Lake Tongjong, the estuary of Rajinphochon and other places. This result proved that the above-said places are up to the standard of the Ramsar Convention.

The survey serves as a precious success conducive to the confirmation of water bird habitats in winter, the estimation of conservation value for each wetland and the scientific development of the country's nature conservation.

The institute is now deepening its field survey of main migratory bird reserves and important areas of biodiversity in wetlands in the spring migratory period, while planning to survey and study the breeding place reserves.