[Ecology] Changhua County to Celebrate "Homecoming" of Eagles with Festival

[Ecology] Changhua County to Celebrate "Homecoming" of Eagles with Festival (Chinese Version)

CNA – Focus Taiwan (2012/03/21)Central Taiwan's Changhua County will hold a two-day festival over the weekend to celebrate the "homecoming" of the gray-faced buzzard eagle, the county head said March 21.

Touting the mass migration -- thousands of birds are expected daily until early April -- as one of the biggest eco-events of the year, Changhua County head Po-yuan CHO said the eagle-gazing festival will run from March 24-25 in Changhua County.

During the event, which is expected to attract around 1,000 participants, parades and performances with an eagle theme will take place, CHO said.

He added there will also be field trips to eastern Changhua's Bagua Mountain, where the birds traditionally gather.

"There used to be much hunting of the eagles due to a lack of laws and preservation work, but now we are treating the birds as our most prominent guests," CHO said.

With humid seasonal winds carrying the eagles to Bagua Mountain region during early spring, bird watchers said chances are high that around 3,000-4,000 eagles per day can be observed at the moment.

"We usually see as many as 20,000 eagles during the migration season," said Te-chih CHEN, director of the Wild Bird Society of Chang Hwa, the organizer of the field trips.

However, CHEN pointed out the birds have shown a slight change in migratory patterns over the years by moving southward to rest, an indication of possible excessive development on the north side of the mountain.

"We hope to use the field trips as opportunities to raise awareness of the issue," CHEN said.


Further Information:
CNA – Focus Taiwan 2012/03/21

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