KESTRELS SPOTTED IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS

[Anchor Lead]

The bird kestrel, a designated natural monument, is frequently sighted in the city and residential areas these days in Korea. This is due to the absence of natural habitats with recent typhoons and downpours. Take a look.

[Pkg]

A fire squad arrives at an apartment building and rushes up to the 15th floor. They received a report that a kestrel was trapped in a hallway and they've come to rescue the bird. Two days prior, a baby kestrel with a broken left wing was found at a residential parking lot.

[Soundbite] JIN JEONG-WOO(WILDLIFE CENTER OF CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO PROV.) : "During the relocation period, the mother calls her chicks to leave the nest but the chicks at this stage aren't fully grown and can't fly properly."

This year alone, 68 common kestrels have been rescued by wildlife centers so far and nearly half of them were wandering about after losing their nests. Leaving the wild, kestrels are often seen making their new abodes under commercial signboards or the outdoor unit of air conditioners commonly seen in apartments. Their natural habitats are being destroyed due to reckless development. The birds venture out to city centers in search of food such as rodents. They are often found wounded after crashing into buildings or completely exhausted due to the recent heavy rain and typhoons.

[Soundbite] SIN YONG-UN(CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION) : "Baby kestrels, departing their nest, could not hunt for food during typhoons. They are being rescued after being in a state of exhaustion."

Animal rights groups ask citizens to first call 119 when they spot a kestrel and not to touch them as they are predatory birds that can get aggressive.