LAUSR

Abstract. The Gochang Tidal Flat plays a crucial role as a stopover site for migratory shorebirds within the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). This study focuses on 10 shorebird species observed at Gochang to assess their migration patterns using standardized survey methods. From July 2022 to June 2023, we conducted 24 surveys across five designated sites and 25 survey points. The selected species—the Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Common Greenshank, (Tringa nebularia), Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus), Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), and Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris)—showed distinct seasonal distributions in abundance. During southward migration in fall, Kentish Plovers and Common Greenshanks were most prevalent, while Whimbrels, Dunlins, and Bar-tailed Godwits dominated during northward migration in spring. Species like the Grey Plover, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Terek Sandpiper, and Far Eastern Curlew were consistently abundant in both seasons. Spatially, Grey Plovers and Dunlins were concentrated in the inner tidal areas, whereas Far Eastern Curlews, Whimbrels, and Terek Sandpipers favored central and outer regions. Large populations of Black-tailed Gulls and Eurasian Oystercatchers were observed along oceanfront. This study underscores the ecological significance by elucidating annual shorebird population dynamics.