Taipei readies for international birdwatching fair

2015/10/14

Taipei International Birdwatching Fair gets underway Oct. 24 at Guandu Nature Park, highlighting the importance of protecting Taiwan’s ecologically sensitive wetlands and migratory species.

The two-day event—themed See Wild Birds, Conserve Nature—brings together domestic and overseas birders’ associations for activities combining environmental education and local concerns within a global framework. It was launched in 1999 by Taipei City Government and Wild Bird Society of Taipei.

“Observation is the first step toward understanding birds and their environment,” a WBST staffer said. “Learning to identify the calls and living patterns of various species helps build a greater appreciation of diversity and the need for heightened preservation efforts.

“There are eight main routes for migrating birds worldwide, and Taiwan is located in the middle of the one for East Asian birds. As a result, nearly 7 percent of the world’s species frequent the island to take advantage of its unique ecological resources.”

The common teal, which comes from Siberia in September and winters in Taiwan until March or April next year, is the official bird of this year’s event. Other visiting species in the coming months include mallards and northern pintails and shovelers, according to WBST.

“Even black-faced spoonbills are occasionally spotted in the park,” the staffer said, adding that the birds are drawn to Guandu by its pristine 57-hectare wetlands environment at the junction of the Tamsui and Keelung Rivers in northern Taiwan.

One of the highlights of the event is a film on the common teal and the challenges it faces on its 4,000-plus kilometer journey to Taiwan from the Caucasus region between Southeast Europe and West Asia. Other activities include do-it-yourself sessions, exhibitions, ecological seminars, outdoor concerts and video screenings.

Since taking charge of Guandu in 2001, WBST has turned Taiwan’s first wetlands restoration area into a world-class platform for educational and cultural exchanges.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=237683&ctNode=2194&mp=9)