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JNU Jeju Wildlife Rescue Center (Director Yoon Young-min) recently released a grey frog hawk—an endangered species (Class II) and designated Natural Monument No. 323-2—back into the wild after successful treatment.

The bird had been rescued after crashing into a window near Baegnok Elementary School in Nohyeong-dong, Jeju City, on May 31. It was found on the road showing symptoms of a concussion.
A thorough examination by the rescue center revealed that the bird was in an unstable condition due to oral bleeding caused by a head injury.

The rescue team stabilized the bird and provided intensive care, including medication and nutritional support, for a week. Fortunately, the bird regained its strength through flight training and was returned to nature later that day.

The grey frog hawk (family Accipitridae, order Accipitriformes) breeds in Korea and overwinters in China and Southeast Asia. It is a small migratory raptor with a dark blue-gray back and a yellow-striped chest. The species typically lays three to four eggs per clutch, with a breeding period of approximately 22 days.

As a summer migratory bird, it arrives on Jeju Island in early May and can be observed until late September. This recent rescue marks the first time in 12 years that the center has treated this species, whose breeding population has significantly declined—highlighting the need for public awareness and conservation efforts.

An official from the center stated, “Tens of thousands of birds are injured or killed in window collisions every year across Korea,” adding, “We should take small but effective actions—such as applying dot-pattern stickers or bird collision prevention films to windows—to help prevent these accidents.”