The 2008 Taipei International Birdwatching Fair will be held this weekend with global warming as the main theme, at a time when avian habitats are being threatened by climate change, a Forestry Bureau Conservation Division official said yesterday.
“Through the show, we hope to promote the idea of wildlife conservation and also boost tourism,” said Conservation Division Director Kuan Li-hao (管立豪), adding that the number of birdwatchers visiting Taiwan has increased year by year.
Kuan said Taiwan enjoyed rich natural resources in its bird diversity, with around 450 to 500 species, including both resident and migratory birds.
He also said that the country had achieved some success in bird conservation, citing the increasing population of the rare migratory black-faced spoonbill.
Classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the number of spoonbills seen in Taiwan has increased from several hundred to about 800 to 1,200 per year.
At the fair, local wild bird conservation organizations and organizations from nine other countries, including the Wild Bird Society of Japan, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines and Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, will exhibit and introduce birds found in their countries.
In addition, guides speaking Mandarin and English will be available to help visitors better understand the impact of global warming on the habitats and eco-systems of birds.
Kuan said global warming has had a negative impact not only on bird habitats but also on their migration, sources of food and reproductive capacity.
The two-day fair will be held at the Guandu Nature Park (關渡自然公園) and Zhishan Cultural and Ecological Garden. Admission is free.
The annual fair was first launched in 1999 by the Wild Bird Society of Taipei, the Council of Agriculture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Guandu is a major stopover site for migratory birds, especially waterfowl and shorebirds. It is also an important wintering and breeding ground for many species. So far, 229 species of birds have been recorded at Guandu, the park’s administration said.
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