Avian visitors to Kuandu Nature Reserve (關渡自然公園) are currently having a rare taste of homebuilding out of the gaze of camera and binocular toting bird watchers, as the annual nesting season gets underway in an usually empty park. Like many of the nation's popular weekend destinations, the nature reserve has seen a marked decrease in the number of visitors due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic.
With thousands of migratory swallows returning to Taiwan to roost before departing for warmer climes in late August, this is traditionally one of the park's busiest times.
Although the exact number of swallows that arrive in Kuandu to nest is unknown, the town's most celebrated birdwatcher, Hsu Tsai (
"Last year I had the idea to count, or at least gather data regarding the approximate number of swallows that nested in the town. It didn't take me longer than a few days to realize I was out of my depth," Hsu said. "The sheer number of swallows made the task an impossibility."
Although the number and species of birds now visiting the Kuandu area in order to nest has increased since the development of the park two years ago, Hsu said the area has been a magnet for migratory birds for hundreds of years.
"This area of the Tamsui River has always been home to migratory birds. Before the park opened there were somewhere in the region of 200 species of birds in the area," recalled the Kuandu native. "Since it opened two years ago I reckon that number has almost doubled and now stands at about 400 species."
PHOTO: GAVIN PHIPPS, TAIPEI TIMES
The idea for creating Kuandu Nature Reserve was reportedly based on an off-the-cuff proposal made to then-Taipei City mayor, Lee Teng-hui (
The 57-hectare man-made nature reserve, which consists of coastal forest, fresh water biological, stream ecological and low-elevation ecological areas, cost Taipei City taxpayers a total of NT$15 billion and was opened to the public on Oct. 27 2001.
Although the park has become one of Taipei's leading tourist attractions, the lush green and environmentally healthy looking conservation sight is not without its critics. Academics have pointed to a thin line that exists between conservation and overprotection. Experts believe that if the man-made mangrove forest continues to grow at its current rate it could damage the park's ecosystem, albeit a manmade one. According to reports released last year, the parks forested area has grown by 115 percent, or from 10.48 hectares in 1989 to 23.55 hectares.
PHOTO: HUANG WEN-HSIN
Finding a balance
The general public might be under the impression that green is good. Some experts, however, think otherwise. If the park is to maintain a balanced ecosystem, which is currently home to between 124 and 220 species of migratory birds, depending on the time of year, then the introduction of less picturesque areas could be crucial.
"Wide-open mudflats might smell bad and not look as pleasant as greenery, but they serve an equally, if not more important function," said Hsieh Hwey-lian (
PHOTO: GAVIN PHIPPS, TAIPEI TIMES
Built along the estuary where the Tamsui and Keelung rivers converge, the park was developed on land which mother nature never intend to be used as a mangrove forest.
"The artificial mangrove forest has changed the ecosystem. The mangrove forest has led to siltation, which in turn has reduced the amount of oxygen in the water," Hsieh said. "Muddy soil and large deposits of sediment have also built up, thus creating a blockage and narrowing the confluence of the Keelung and Tamsui rivers."
Whilst this is a point that the park management is aware of and planning to address in the near future, according to the planning department's manager there are dirty matters to deal with first -- pollutants.
PHOTO: HUANG WEN-HSIN
"We are aware of the problems manmade mangroves can cause and are currently looking into cutting them back," said Maureen Hsieh (
Located adjacent to the Chungkang and Queitzekeng rivers, staff at the park are constantly dealing with an endless stream of garbage and dirty water that ekes its way into the park from Peitou. Consisting of food packaging and other non-biodegradable objects, bird lovers such as Hsu believe it is a matter that should be addressed by careless local residents, rather than one that should be shouldered by the park and its already tight financial budget.
"Most of the pollution we find in the park's streams has obviously originated up stream and simply runs unchecked into the park's waterways," Hsu said. "Sure, the park authorities can fish it out, but that's an endless task and one that need not to be done if people simply acted in a more responsible manner."
PHOTO COURTESY WBST
Clearing up
Managed by the Wild Bird Society of Taipei (WBST,
Founded in 1973 as the Taipei Wild Bird Watcher (台北賞鳥會), the association took the moniker Wild Bird Society of Taiwan in 1984, shortly after it became a recognized NGO. Currently boasting a roster of over 400 volunteers and 2000 members nationwide, the society publishes periodicals and journals as well as running educational programs.
"Since we are only one of dozens of organizations and groups funded by Taipei City Government, our annual budget is pretty small. Corporate sponsorship has been a great help," Hsieh said. "For example, without the help of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank we would never have been able to organize our current environmental awareness classes."
Lack of funds might continue to prove problematic in the battle to protect the nation's bird life, but one of the society's more popular programs has proven successful thanks largely to the general public.
The WBST's bird rescue program is responsible for training school teachers in the basic bird first aid practices. As well as holding regular classes at its Kuandu headquarters, the society also takes its program on the road and holds seminars in towns and cities across the country.
The program has led to a marked increase in the number of injured and sick birds being brought to the attention of the society. Last year the WBST took care of more than 500 injured birds and this year alone the number of birds brought to the society in need of medical attention has already surpassed 100.
According to Hsieh, one of the reasons behind this increase in numbers is the widespread death from botulism poisoning of scores of spoonbills in the Tainan area last year.
"It's not a nice way to get attention, but the death of the spoonbills and subsequent publicity last year certainly brought the plight of the nation's bird life into the limelight," a WBST spokesperson said. "More people now know that we have offices up and down the country that are there for the sole purpose of helping injured birds."
Although the number of injured birds being brought to centers for medical care has increased, the numbers of those being subsequently rehabilitated and returned to the wild is frighteningly low. Less than half of all the birds brought in for medical care last year were either unfit to be released back into the wild or failed to survive their injuries.
Despite having to walk a thin line between successful conservation and environmental mismanagement, park authorities remain confident of their endeavors. Given time, the conservation area's and the society's goal of educating people about the need to protect the nation's bird life will be achieved.
"As the first non-governmental agency to be given the responsibility of looking after a nature reserve in Taiwan, we are obviously the focus of much attention," Hsieh said. "But with the public's continued support we hope to prove that the WBST is as capable of managing and making a difference as any government body."
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