Guanyin - Raptor Watching Opens: Come to Guanyin Mountain to See Birds of Prey

(Taiwan Business News) The North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area Administration of the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, together with the Taipei Wild Bird Society, held the "2014 Guanyin - Raptor Watching" event on the 19th at the Guanyinshan Visitor Center, and also released the "Guanyin Raptor Watching - Guanyinshan Raptor Identification Handbook." Many of the participants took advantage of the weekend to go up the mountain to watch raptors, and were very happy to see birds of prey soaring in the sky.

An ecological interpreter from the Taipei Wild Bird Society said that every spring, migratory raptors return north to their breeding grounds, and Guanyin Mountain, located on the Tamsui River side, is the last stop on the migration route. From mid-April to early May, there is a chance to observe raptors at Guanyin Mountain. Chen Meixiu, Director of the North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area Administration of the Tourism Bureau, said that the "Guanyin - Raptor Watching" event has been held at the Guanyinshan Visitor Center in mid-to-late April every year since 2002, like an appointment with an old friend; every year, they must meet once before spring ends. Therefore, the saying "Guanyin in the north, Bagua in the center, Kenting in the south" has long been passed down, and it is also hoped that through the raptor watching event, more people will come to know Guanyin Mountain's rich ecological environment.

The event on the 19th not only had docents stationed to explain raptor ecology, but also included bird hat DIY, guided tours of Guanyin Mountain's local history and culture, raptor ecology lectures, a farmers' market, and other activities. Although the sky was overcast and occasionally cleared, 10 species of raptors were still observed, including the Grey-faced Buzzard, Chinese Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and Besra, making the skies over Guanyin Mountain quite lively. For related event information, please contact the Taipei Wild Bird Society at (02)2325-9190 or the North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area Administration of the Tourism Bureau at (02)8635-5100.