Print

Mail

wiki links

Goshawks descend on Kenting’s skies in the thousands

Approximately 11,000 Chinese goshawks (Accipiter soloensis) were observed in the skies above Kenting National Park yesterday as they made their way across the open sea as part of their migratory passage, a phenomenon marked with a festival in Pingtung County.

The migration is known locally as the “Chinese goshawk passing,” said Tsai Yi-jung (蔡乙榮), a ranger at Kenting National Park.

FIRST ARRIVALS

The first goshawks arrived as usual around the first days of September, with more groups arriving ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which usually falls around mid-September, Tsai said.

As of yesterday, more than 20,000 goshawks had touched down, spent a night in Kenting and continued on their journey, Tsai said.

SPECTACULAR SIGHT

The sight of as many as 2,000 of the raptors rising from their roosts in Kenting and hovering over the area before disappearing into the horizon is spectacular, he said.

This weekend will be the best time for seeing the birds in the Kenting area, he said.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

The Chinese goshawk falls into the same family as some eagles and harriers.

Some of the birds breed in Taiwan, while others do so as far north as Siberia and the Korean Peninsula.
This story has been viewed 1054 times.