Fewer than 50 left in the world — take a marine eco-tour of Matsu to spot the mythical bird

Reported by Yang Xiaorou / Matsu

While Matsu is famous for its blue tears in spring and summer — attracting global travelers in recent years — do you know there’s another globally rare marvel here in summer? Located within the “Matsu Archipelago Tern Conservation Area,” large flocks of terns offer a magnificent sight of thousands gathering or flying. Among them, you can also see the mythical bird with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in the world — the Chinese crested tern. Bird lovers and photographers should not miss this!

▲ The mythical bird — the Chinese crested tern. (Photo / Provided by Matsu National Scenic Area Administration)

▲ Terns gather on rocky outcrops, sometimes numbering in the thousands. (Photo / Reporter Yang Xiaorou)

The “Ecological Tern-Watching and Marine Tour of Matsu” event, organized by the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration, kicked off in early July. Participants can take a tern-watching boat to enjoy Matsu’s unique sea-eroded landscapes, the Qinpiby Village, and the world’s important tern conservation area. Within the protected zone, visitors can observe thousands of Greater Crested Terns as well as the rare and precious Chinese crested tern.

▲ Terns in flight over Matsu in summer. (Stock photo illustration) (Photo / Reporter Chen Ziying)

The Chinese crested tern likes to mingle with flocks of Greater Crested Terns as they arrive at the conservation area to breed. Hidden among the more common terns, it can be tricky to spot — but its white body plumage and lighter-colored wings distinguish it from others. When the flock takes flight, just look for the particularly white individual: with the naked eye, you can easily tell the mythical bird apart from the rest.

▲ Tern watching at sea in Matsu. (Photo / Provided by Matsu National Scenic Area Administration)

According to the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration, sightings of the Chinese crested tern are made during every sailing of the “Ecological Tern-Watching and Marine Tour of Matsu.” At its peak, up to nine of these mythical birds have been spotted in the conservation area at once. Visitors can enjoy the sight of terns filling the skies before they migrate south for winter. Tern-watching boat tours will run until October 20th, after which the route will change to focus on marine landscapes and settlement sights around Matsu. For details, please see:The official website of the Matsu National Scenic Area Administration.

2016 Ecological Tern-Watching and Marine Tour of Matsu
Event Dates: July 1, 2016 – October 20, 2016
Ticket Price: NT$300 (full price), NT$150 (half price, includes insurance); each trip accommodates 45 people, first-come-first-served.
Meeting Time and Location: 30 minutes before departure at Fuzhou Wharf Plaza in Nangan (in front of 7-11)
Departure Times:
> July & August: Daily at 9:30 AM, with additional 2:30 PM departures on weekends
> September & October: Departures at 9:30 AM on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours
Registration: Call 0836-55661 at Longfu Villa or purchase tickets on-site
Notes: Weather and sea conditions may affect departures; the organizer will decide whether to sail based on actual conditions.