This year is the 25 anniversary of the establishment of Yushan National Park. To acquire an understanding of bird life in the park, in 2009 the park HQ commissioned Kaohsiung Medical University to carry out migratory bird ringing and transitory bird of prey monitoring work at Tatajia, comparing what was recorded with previous reports and records. Two new species were recorded for the first time in Taiwan, the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and Radde's warbler (Phylloscopus schwarzi.) Altogether 189 species in 48 families and 14 genera were recorded, one third of the 560 species recorded in Taiwan. The 23 species endemic to Taiwan were recorded in the park.

This survey showed that Tatajia is one of the migrating routes for transitory birds. In all 13 species were caught, with brown shrikes (Lanius cristatu) the most numerous, followed by lanceolated warblers (Locustella lanceolata.) Monitoring of birds of prey active in day time recorded nine species in three familes, with more than 1000 Chinese goshawks (Accipiter soloensis) and 1000 gray-faced buzzards (Butastur indicus) recorded, and less than ten of the others recorded. The peak period for Chinese goshawks and gray-faced buzzards to arrive resembles that seen in Kenting but is much smaller in scale. The birds probably sped the night before they leave after their brief stay in a river valley to the north of Tatajia, the exact location of which is still to be identified.

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Yushan National Park Headquarters