Second-class protected animal — The bird world’s supermodel “Greater Flamingo” spotted at Budai Wetlands

Reporter You Tzu-ju / Comprehensive report

The two Greater Flamingos that went missing from Linbian, Pingtung before Lunar New Year reappeared at South Budai Wetlands and stayed until the seventh day of the New Year (February 6)! The Southwestern Coast National Scenic Area Administration and the Tainan City Ecology Conservation Society announced the good news, believing the favorable environment of the “South Budai Wetlands” attracted them to fly north and settle there. During the holiday, many visitors, bird lovers, and photographers flocked to see the pair of “Greater Flamingos.”


▲ The two Greater Flamingos that went missing from Linbian, Pingtung before Lunar New Year reappeared at South Budai Wetlands and stayed until the seventh day of the New Year. (Photo / Courtesy of the Southwestern Coast National Scenic Area Administration website)
 
This pair of “Greater Flamingos” was first spotted by sharp-eyed birdwatchers on January 5 this year (2014) at the mouth of the Linbian River in Pingtung. It is understood that these are the first two Greater Flamingos ever recorded in Taiwan, and they were likely “lost migratory birds”! Their presence drew bird enthusiasts from all over Taiwan to gather, take photos, and observe their habitat. However, they disappeared on January 29.

Zheng Rongzhe from the Southwestern Coast National Scenic Area Administration revealed that while leading bird-loving tourists to view Black-faced Spoonbills at South Budai Wetlands on the third day of the New Year (February 1), he unexpectedly found the pair of “Greater Flamingos” — missing for three days from Linbian, Pingtung — had appeared at the “South Budai Wetlands” under his administration. They were seen living among many protected bird species, including the Black-faced Spoonbill, which greatly excited him. During the New Year period, at least 50 to 60 large cameras were focused on photographing them every day, leaving everyone in awe. Qiu Renwu, chairman of the Tainan City Ecology Conservation Society, said that all bird species in the “Phoenicopteridae” family are listed as protected under the Washington Convention, and Taiwan also classifies them as second-class precious protected rare wildlife.


▲ On the second day of the New Year at South Budai Wetlands, the pair of “Greater Flamingos,” missing for three days from Linbian, Pingtung, was unexpectedly spotted. (Photo / Courtesy of the Southwestern Coast National Scenic Area Administration website)
 
The “Greater Flamingo,” also known as the Greater Flaming, Large Flamingo, or Greater Flaming Bird, belongs to the order Phoenicopteriformes and the family Phoenicopteridae. There are two genera and six species worldwide, mainly concentrated in Central and South America and Eurasia. The Greater Flamingo is the most widely distributed and largest species in the Phoenicopteridae family, primarily found from the Mediterranean, African continent, to the Indian subcontinent. Adult Greater Flamingos stand between 120 to 140 centimeters tall. With their long slender legs and elegant posture, they are praised by many bird enthusiasts as the “supermodels of the bird world.”

Zheng Rongzhe from the Southwestern Coast National Scenic Area Administration explained that the southwestern coast of Taiwan has rich ecological resources and is home to many migratory birds, including the “Black-faced Spoonbill.” During the New Year period, the “Black-faced Spoonbill” did not appear in its usual habitat, but the “Greater Flamingo,” which is usually found in deeper areas, made an appearance. “The Greater Flamingo” is widely distributed in highly saline regions, and is preliminarily believed to be from the Middle East. During the holiday, visitors who drove along the coastal road could catch sight of the majestic figure of the Greater Flamingo and witness the subtle changes in the ecology of the wetlands.