Tourism Administration, Republic of China (Taiwan)-Taiwan Tourism Administration's Taiwan Tourism Information Website

Watching Black-faced Spoonbill in the mouth of Zengwen River

Black-faced Spoonbill is one almost extinct bird in the world and protected by regulation. In 2003, Bird-Watching Association counts out almost one hundred Black-faced Spoonbills flying from the northeast area of Korea or Mainland China on every Oct. to stay in the mouth of Qigu Zengwen River for winter over. Because Black-faced Spoonbill is rarer than Panda and almost would fly to the mouth of Qigu Zengwen River, that's why Black-faced Spoonbill has become the most famous bird in Taiwan.

Black-faced Spoonbill would fly here on every Sep. and Oct. and leave on next Mar. to May, thus this period is the best to watch Black-faced Spoonbill in Qigu. Because Black-faced Spoonbill usually take rest in the daytime and forage at night, they would gather together without any action but play, bathe, or clean feathers for each other at 4:00 or 5:00 pm. If visitors are fortunate, they could watch Black-faced Spoonbill activities by telescope.

Actually, besides Black-faced Spoonbill, there are about two hundred kinds of birds ingathering in the mouth of Zengwen River, such as Gull, Snipe, Turtledove, Chinese bulbul. Generally, visitors could observe more migrant birds in winter.