TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Liang Chieh-teh (梁皆得) is set to release his latest film, “Fly, Mountain Hawk-Eagle,” on May 15, chronicling a 12-year effort to capture one of Taiwan’s most elusive birds of prey.
The documentary follows Liang deep into the mountains along the Southern Cross-Island Highway and into Indigenous communities in Pingtung, documenting the mountain hawk-eagle’s life cycle and habitat. It also highlights long-term conservation efforts by researchers, birdwatchers, and Indigenous peoples, per UDN.
The mountain hawk-eagle is a medium-to-large raptor in the subfamily Aquilinae that combines features of both hawks and eagles. Smaller than typical eagles, it is long-tailed and broad-winged, making it well adapted to dense forests rather than open skies.
Often crested and with feathered legs, the bird hunts birds, mammals, and reptiles. The film features sweeping aerial footage, intimate close-ups, and narration accompanied by a mesmerizing score by Lim Giong (林強), offering a visually striking experience that encourages viewers to reconsider the relationship between humans and nature.
Longtime researcher Sun Yuan-hsun (孫元勳) has closely studied the mountain hawk-eagle, one of Taiwan’s most mysterious raptors. The film gives rare insight into the bird’s behavior and ecology, bringing audiences into remote mountain environments that are usually unseen.
“Originally, I planned to slowly work on this mountain hawk-eagle project after completing my last film, but then I learned of unexpected progress in Professor Sun’s research and his impending retirement. This led me to accelerate filming,” Liang said.
“The mountain hawk-eagle is a very rare bird of prey; just seeing it is a matter of luck, let alone capturing its rare behaviors. As you can imagine, this film required a great deal of my time,” he said.
Liang said many filming trips ended without results, but the prolonged wait eventually paid off. “I believe everyone will be amazed by these rare sights,” he added.
The documentary also explores the cultural significance of mountain hawk-eagle feathers in Indigenous traditions, particularly among the Paiwan and Rukai, where they symbolize honor, status, and ancestral connection. It examines the tension between preserving traditional practices and protecting wildlife, including the use of artificial feathers as an alternative.
Liang described the bird as a creature of legend, dwelling deep within Taiwan’s mountains, powerful yet elusive, its presence commanding and its disappearance silent.
Although not endemic to Taiwan, the mountain hawk-eagle holds deep cultural meaning on the island. For many Indigenous communities, it is more than a bird of prey, embodying ancestral spirits and carrying traditions passed down through generations.
Beginning in 2003, Sun embarked on a long and challenging effort to study the species, traversing steep slopes and dangerous cliffs to document its behavior.
The film also captures the hatching of a mountain hawk-eagle chick and follows its development through to flight, enduring harsh weather and multiple trials. For more information about the film’s premiere and subsequent screenings, visit its official Facebook fan page.
