TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A winter survey of ponds in Taoyuan recorded an increase in migratory birds, with volunteers documenting 86 species and a total of 14,357 wild birds, according to the Wild Bird Society of Taoyuan.
The survey, conducted in December and January, covered ponds across the city. Birdwatchers reported that the population of cormorants doubled to more than 3,000 birds. However, the number of sparrows recorded during the survey nearly halved, per CNA.
According to a press release from the group, several species were recorded for the first time during the survey, including the falcated duck, northern lapwing, eastern buzzard, and tundra bean goose. Observers also spotted the Asian glossy starling for the first time, an invasive species.
A higher number of bird species typically indicates greater biodiversity. Pond 2-3-1 along the Taoyuan Irrigation Canal in Dayuan District recorded 32 bird species, making it the most bird-rich pond during this year’s survey.
Fan Chuo-chao (范卓昭), chair of the Wild Bird Society of Taoyuan, said 37 volunteers visited 203 ponds across Taoyuan and uploaded their observations to the global eBird database maintained by Cornell University. Fan said December is typically when winter migratory birds arrive in large numbers, while January sees the most stable populations before many species begin migrating north again in mid-to-late February.
He noted that the increase in cormorants could be the result of birds shifting from other wintering grounds in Taiwan, though further observation is needed to confirm the trend. The survey also recorded more than 1,000 tufted ducks, a key species found in Taoyuan’s ponds, representing a significant increase compared with the previous year.
Fan said the decline in sparrows may be related to environmental changes around the ponds, such as the construction of lakeside trails and slope protection projects that reduce surrounding vegetation. Birdwatchers also observed a new behavior among some wintering birds, which have begun using solar panels as shelters from strong northeast monsoon winds, suggesting a developing pattern of urban coexistence.
While previous surveys primarily focused on ponds along the Taoyuan Irrigation Canal, this year’s effort expanded to include ponds connected to the Shimen Irrigation Canal system. The group said birds are among the best ecological indicators for monitoring environmental conditions, and the data collected during each survey provides important clues for understanding environmental changes.
