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Spring at last! The dry and nearly colorless winter has ended.

March 18: 9 p.m. and it’s still 17 degrees outside! The sky is heavy with clouds almost raining, the air is heavy with flowers almost blooming. The night is alive with sights, sounds, and smells – maybe this is always the case but it just feels different, somehow, when you don’t have to put on gloves and a jacket to be comfortable outside.

March 20: another day is done. Sneaking time before work and during lunch to be outside in the sun (camera in hand whenever possible). The neighborhood is beginning to show some real color again: new green grass, leaves opening and unfolding, tightly-packed buds of color that will soon be blossoms.

Please see album for more photos.

The first that I’ve seen, anyway! I found this tiny pale pink flower newly opened on an early Saturday-morning walk, while trying out a new trail, and had to return the next day with my camera. The trees and bushes are budding everywhere too, so I think by next weekend the hills will be a lot greener.

Yesterday, March 8. I followed the trail all the way to a steep rocky peak: surreal-shaped boulders and pines; hikers yodeling in the distance; narrow trails and wide, flat rock faces; families picnicking on unlikely perches and clifftops; amazing views of the city. See more photos here.

Korea’s rivers are alive. They support many specialised species. They connect wetlands, one to another, allowing water and wetland species to move to new areas. Natural stretches of river have a distinctive “ecological character”. They have a very important role in naturally improving water quality, in naturally reducing the dangers of flooding. Natural stretches of river are often extremely beautiful. Their beauty is part of the culture and heritage and image of the nation.

Several Korean bird species are dependent on natural, free-flowing stretches of rivers. These species are a part of the “ecological character” of rivers.

. . .

Through existing national conservation laws and these international agreements, the Republic of Korea has agreed to protect the ecological character of our rivers. It has made a public promise to keep our natural rivers natural, and our living rivers alive.

As an apolitical organisation working for the conservation of birds and their habitats, Birds Korea is therefore puzzled by and very deeply concerned by recent announcements in support of the “refurbishment” of four, or now perhaps five, of the nation’s major rivers. These announcements appear not to have included any statements of acceptance of the clear (and legally-binding) obligations held under the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Rather, supporters have tried to claim that the nation’s main rivers will actually be improved through the loss of their present ecological character.

. . .

Birds Korea therefore joins with others, throughout Korea and the rest of the world, in respectfully asking for an immediate suspension of the very poorly-advised “Four Main Rivers Refurbishment Plan”. We believe that there is an urgent need for a full and independent assessment of the Plan’s impacts, on biodiversity, ecological character of rivers, wise use of wetlands, and the national interest.

. . .

Excerpted from Birds Korea. See also these articles from the International Herald Tribune, the BBC News , and the Oriental Bird Club.