View the stars and owls on summer nights atop Taihei Mountain – fee of NT$100, limited spots available

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Luodong Forest District Office under the Forestry Bureau announced on the 7th that the Taiwan Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Yilan will host “Starry Night Sky” and “Owl Night Watching” events from April to July. Guests staying at Taihei Villa are welcome to sign up, with a registration fee of NT$100 per person.(Image above / Provided by the Luodong Forest District Office under the Forestry Bureau)

The Luodong Forest District Office noted that the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area had trialed “Starry Night Sky” and “Owl Night Watching” events between 2014 and 2015, receiving an enthusiastic response from visitors. To enhance overall event quality, this year’s stargazing activities will be fee-based and have limited capacity.The “Starry Night Sky” events are scheduled for April 16, May 7, and June 25, while the “Owl Night Watching” sessions are set for May 21, June 18, and July 16..

The Luodong Forest District Office explained that Taipingshan, located in mid-to-high altitude mountainous areas, not only offers stunning mountain scenery and breathtaking sunsets and dawns but is also an excellent spot for stargazing. Therefore, stargazing events are planned to give everyone the chance to witness the shining stars of Taipingshan.Under good weather conditions and free from light pollution, Taipingshan sometimes presents a magnificent fantasy scene where sea of clouds, the Milky Way, and meteors appear simultaneously.This leaves visitors amazed and amazed.

In addition, the Yilan County Wild Bird Society has conducted bird surveys in Taipingshan since 2005, revealing a rich avian diversity. Among them, the owl, often associated with the image of a forest guardian, is a nocturnal raptor that is not easy to observe but serves as an indicator of ecological health.Eight species of owls have been recorded in Taipingshan, among which the Ural Owl has the highest frequency of appearance.This also indicates the stability of the Taipingshan environment and the integrity of its habitat, making it suitable as an indicator species for nocturnal raptors. Therefore, the best seasons for observation are spring and summer when weather conditions are relatively stable.

The Luodong Forest District Office stated that the registration process for the events requires guests staying at Taihei Villa to sign up on-site at the Taihei Villa counter on the day of the event.Sessions are generally held from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM.Indoor sessions take place in the conference room, while outdoor sessions are led by professional instructors.

The “Starry Night Sky” event is limited to 50 participants, and the “Owl Night Watching” to 20, with a registration fee of NT$100 per person.The Luodong Forest District Office emphasized that the courses are designed to minimize disturbance and avoid impacting the ecological habitat, allowing the public to observe and understand the ecological indicator functions of wildlife, as well as to foster knowledge and awareness about ecological conservation.