Every year when autumn turns to winter and the seasonal wind blows down from the mountains, flocks of Chinese sparrow hawks (赤腹鷹) and gray-faced buzzard eagles(灰面鵟鷹) visit the Hengchun peninsula where the climate is warm and food is plentiful. After resting for a while and building up their strength, they fly further south for the winter. For over 20 years Kending National Park HQ has actively carried out migratory bird protection work to prevent the hunting of the birds, behavior that belongs in the past when times were hard. In recent years, to increase local participation in public affairs and provide a channel for communication between local people and government, “conservation localization” has been promoted. Assistance has been provided with community interpreter and bird of prey protection patrol member training, eco-tourism in the Manjhouli area has been promoted and the power of local people has been utilized in environmental education and ecological conservation efforts to move towards achieving the objective of sustainable development.

This year, Kending National Park HQ, Pingdong Forest District Office, Pingdong County Government and Manjjhouli district office jointly provided guidance to the Manjhouli Native Plant and Ecological Conservation Association for the establishment of a bird of prey protection patrol. The patrol was established on September 17, 2008. The aim is to involve local community people and groups in conservation patrol work and deter hunting of birds during the bird migration season.

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Kenting National Park Headquarters