A dazzling diversity of bird species — the Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan Marathon goes “bird-crazy”

Travel Center / Taipei Reporting




The spectacular sight of an overwhelming variety of birds attracts many international travelers to the Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan areas for birdwatching. (Photo / From the Facebook page of the White Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan International Birdwatching Marathon)

Located along the coastlines of Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan counties in southwestern Taiwan, this area features sandy beaches formed by river sedimentation, along with lagoon-like landforms that nurture rich and diverse wetland activities and plant ecology, making it a truly unique scenic destination. The event aims to attract more people to explore the world of birdwatching through this international birdwatching competition.

The inaugural Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan International Birdwatching Marathon held last year drew international birders from the United States, South Africa, Japan, Germany, South Korea, and other countries to Taiwan for a bird-spotting competition. This 30-hour-long international birdwatching event, akin to a marathon in running, is called a “Birdathon” in English. It covers the three counties and cities of Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan, extending from the ecologically rich coastal areas of Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan to mountainous regions. Both waterfowl and montane bird species can be comprehensively observed. Last year, 22 teams recorded a total of 264 bird species, generating enthusiastic responses both domestically and internationally.

Zheng Rong [Name adjusted for clarity], Director of the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Administration, said that the counties and cities of Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan, including the richly ecological Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Coastal Area, Qigu Wetlands, and the southern Sihcao Wetlands, are all paradise spots for birdwatching. Especially the internationally rare and protected bird species, the Black-faced Spoonbill, migrates from the north to the southern part of Taiwan to escape the cold from October to around April or May each year. In recent years, their distribution has shown a trend of extending to the salt pans and wetlands in Jiaoxi and Budai. It is hailed as a place where Black-faced Spoonbills can be spotted all year round, offering extremely high ornithological interest. In addition to Black-faced Spoonbills and Black-tailed Gulls, there are also flocks of sandpipers, herons, and ducks waiting for everyone to track their sightings.

Registration for the “2013 White Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan International Birdwatching Marathon” is open from now until September 15 (or until registration is full). Interested members of the public and bird enthusiasts can visit the official website of the White Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan International Birdwatching Marathonhttp://www.taiwanbirdathon.org/for details and to sign up.