Tourists hard to find at Kuandu Nature Reserve

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."