A Birdwatcher’s Paradise in Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan: Black-faced Spoonbills and Bridled Terns Signal Early Bird Discounts!

▲ A large influx of migratory birds in the Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan region, with Taiwan Tourist Shuttle and local businesses offering “early birdwatching discounts.” (Photo / fromYunlin-Chiayi-Tainan, So Much Fun!!! Fan Page)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

With the arrival of the northeast monsoon signaling the onset of autumn and winter, migratory birds are flocking to the coastal areas of Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan for the season. Following the first group of black-faced spoonbills arriving at “Qigu” on the 27th of September, bridled terns have also made their appearance at “Beimen.” The arrival of these two iconic bird species in Tainan officially marks the beginning of the “Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Coastal Birdwatching Season”! The “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle – Yanxiang Coastal Line,” operating in the Chiayi-Tainan region, has launched an “Early Birdwatchers Enjoy More Discounts” campaign, inviting visitors to explore the salt country and enjoy great benefits!

Recently, the Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan region has been buzzing with “bird news.” Travelers taking the Yanxiang Coastal Line have the chance to spot flocks of egrets, great herons, and sacred ibises along the way. Especially between October and December each year, bridled terns gather in large numbers around the Jingzijiao Salt Fields in Beimen, Tainan. At dawn and dusk, tens of thousands of bridled terns swirling above the o_ lake have become a spectacular highlight of the local bird ecology!

Hong Yuzhi, the owner of the “Salt Country Homestay” near Jingzijiao by o_ Lake in Beimen, said that due to the impact of Typhoon Fitow and the strong northeast winds, bridled terns have rapidly increased in number around o_ Lake in Beimen, with currently five to six thousand already present. It is estimated that their population will surge to over twenty to thirty thousand by mid-to-late this month or early next month. In addition, Hong noted that apart from the bridled terns, around 5:30 to 6:00 PM along the Beimen bicycle path, visitors can also admire several hundred sacred ibises. With their numbers significantly higher than in previous years and their visibility excellent, the public can fully enjoy the diverse sights of migratory birds.

The Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Management Office stated that in conjunction with the birdwatching season, businesses in the Beimen area and Taiwan Tourist Shuttle have jointly launched the “Early Birdwatchers Enjoy More Discounts” event. From October 10th to November 17th, visitors who take the “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle – Yanxiang Coastal Line” can, upon presenting their ticket stub, rent a bicycle for free at the “Salt Country Homestay” (for those aged 12 and above, one bike per person), and receive a salt bag, a salty popsicle, as well as an 20% discount on meals. At “Money Comes Also Grocery Store,” bicycle rentals are available at a discounted price of 50 NTD (original price 150 NTD), with a complimentary salty egg and 50% off coffee. Meanwhile, the “Jingzijiao Salt Fields” are offering their uniquely local “salty” ice cream.