Lost travelers visiting? "Stork" Dalmatian Pelican spotted at Aoquo Wetlands

▲The Dalmatian Pelican is a "critically endangered" bird species worldwide, but it showed up in Taiwan due to getting lost. (Photo / Screen capture fromForestry Bureau website)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

An endangered bird has actually appeared in Taiwan? The Chiayi Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau stated that bird sightings have been excellent around Aoquo recently. Previously, the rare winter migrant Oriental Stork was spotted staying there, causing a craze in the bird-watching community. They have continued to stay in the Aoquo Wetlands recently, and about 170 Black-faced Spoonbills have also been seen in the Aoquo Wetlands Forest Park. Most recently, an extremely rare vagrant bird—Dalmatian Pelican.

▲The Aoquo Wetlands Forest Park’s excellent ecology always attracts many bird groups to live here. (Photo / Screen capture fromForestry Bureau website)

The Dalmatian Pelican, belonging to the pelican family, is about 125 cm in length and is relatively large in size. The general public often associates its large throat pouch with the image of a stork carrying a baby wrapped in cloth, so it is commonly nicknamed the "stork" by locals. It is listed in Appendix I of the Washington Convention as a species facing extinction and requiring strict regulation; the International Union for Conservation of Nature also lists it as an “endangered” bird species in its Red List. According to long-term bird resource monitoring and survey data from the Aoquo Wetlands Forest Park managed by this office, there have been previous records of Dalmatian Pelicans at Aoquo. This recent discovery confirms that the Aoquo Wetlands Forest Park has indeed successfully created a favorable habitat for migratory birds.

▲The Black-faced Spoonbill is also a regular visitor to the Aoquo Wetlands Forest Park. (Photo / Taken by Lü Hongchang / Provided by the Chinese Wild Bird Federation)

The Chiayi Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau specially reminds visitors who come to the park for bird-watching to drive slowly and avoid honking when using any vehicles in the park, so as not to disturb the birds. Additionally, to ensure the safety of visitors on the bike path within the bird-watching area of the park loop, from November 1, 2015, to February 28, 2016, on Saturdays, Sundays, national memorial days, traditional festivals, and holidays (including adjusted holidays) between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., one-way vehicle traffic (entering from the north embankment and exiting from the south embankment) will be restricted, and Class A large buses will be prohibited. The public is advised to pay special attention and cooperate accordingly.

Aoquo Wetlands Forest Park
Address: No. 67-6, Sigu, Dongshi Township, Chiayi County

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