TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei’s Nanzigou Creek has again attracted spot-billed ducks, marking a second straight winter visit and signaling steady ecological gains.

The city government said Friday that the ducks were spotted Thursday near Jindu Bridge in Banqiao District. This is their return point to cleaner water and a healthier habitat after years of cleanup work.

The city's Water Resources Department Director-General Sung Te-jen (宋德仁) said the creek was once badly polluted but has improved after a three-stage cleanup launched in 2007. The plan focused on cutting sewage, treating sludge, and cracking down on pollution, which helped bring wildlife back.

CNA and Liberty Times reported Friday that the spot-billed duck is an omnivorous water bird that feeds on plants and small animals. Wild Bird Society of Taipei Secretary-General Chen Shih-hung (陳仕泓) said the species was once mainly a winter migrant but is now slowly becoming a resident bird in some parts of Taiwan.

Recent surveys found more than 160 species of birds, fish, insects, and amphibians around the creek. Officials said this shows the area is shaping up as a stable place for animals to live and feed.

City officials urged visitors to keep their distance and stay quiet when they walk along the creek. They said people should enjoy birdwatching without scaring the ducks so the habitat can keep improving.