Flocks of the migratory grey-faced buzzards, also known as “national day birds”, arrived in Kenting National Park on Double Ten Day. To mark the season, the park Headquarters announced that if the weather holds this will be the height of the grey-faced buzzard migration stopover, and will make the weekend a perfect time for a birdwatching trip to Kenting.

Grey-faced buzzards migrate south every autumn in October passing through Taiwan on their way to the South Pacific. Kenting National Park is a main stopover point for the birds, especially in Manchou Township in the evening. Residents have dubbed the grey-faced buzzards “Shanhou niao” (山後鳥), or birds that come from behind the mountains. In years past they mostly appeared in early October but are a couple days late this year due to the weather. At noon on Double Ten Day, park Headquarters “avian expert” Tsai Yi-jung (蔡乙榮) welcomed the mass arrival of the birds at Sheding Nature Park. Grey-faced buzzards were spotted that afternoon in the De-li mountainous area of Manchou Township.

The park administration office recommended birdwatchers pay attention to forecasts issued by the National Weather Bureau. Provided there are no major weather changes, it will be the peak of this year’s grey-faced buzzard migration, with the weekend as the perfect time to arrange birdwatching events. Grey-faced buzzards can be seen twice during the day. The best viewing location when the birds fly out to sea in the morning is Lingxiao Pavilion (凌宵亭) in Sheding Nature Park, and from three to five in the afternoon the prime spot to see the buzzards landing is in the valley nearby a mountaintop bridge (山頂橋) in De-li Village, Manchou Township.


Source:Kenting National Park,2007-10-10
Re-edited by Taiwan News