International bird watchers delighted at sightings, dismayed at trash

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on May 11, 2006. It reports that a nine-member mixed Canadian and Australian bird-watching group recently arrived at the Tainan Sicao Wild Animal Preserve. The group not only spotted the yellow bittern and other birds that are unique to Asian locales, but also counted 17 black-faced spoonbills.

The group was very excited by these rare finds. However, its members expressed dismay at the fact that the ground everywhere was littered with plastic boxes and other trash. Specifically, the group visited Wufeng, Aowanda, Taroko and other places to see the beauty of Taiwan and to enjoy some of its birds. Its members praised for Taiwan's efforts at environmental conservation, but complained that the scattering of trash almost everywhere was a major blight on the nation's beauty.

The group's leader was from the Taiwan International Birdwatchers Association. According to the organization, since 2003, there has been an aggressive promotion of eco-tours. Taiwan's unique bird species and beautiful natural environment have attracted many bird watchers from abroad. In 2005 alone, some 80 groups of international bird watches visited Taiwan. On average, they stayed from 8 to 15 days. These visits have led to the development of an alternative type of tourism in Taiwan, which could be expanded to include plants, geological formations, landscapes and other features of the natural environment.

Indeed, the Word Bird Exhibition will take place in London in August 2006. The government is urged to promote the ecology of Taiwan to the world.