In light of the large numbers of birdwatchers swarming to Linnei Mountain (林內山) in Yunlin County to see the endangered fairy pitta, the Wild Bird Society of Yunlin yesterday said it would hire security guards to protect the birds’ habitats from human disturbance.
Due to the destruction of its natural habitat and excessive hunting, the migratory bird has become vulnerable to extinction, the society said.
As fairy pitta build their nests on the mountain between May and July every year, bird lovers from around the world flock to the mountain during the period to capture the birds on film, the society said.
Photo courtesy of the Wild Bird Society of Yunlin
Of all the birdwatching spots on the mountain, the Longguomai hiking trail, where fairy pitta sightings peak, is the most popular among photographers, it said.
To get the best view of the birds, some photographers have played the sound of birds humming, used worms to entice them and removed plants, disrupting the birds’ natural habits and destroying their habitat, it said.
Some people went as far as to steal hatchlings, it added.
Photo courtesy of the Wild Bird Society of Yunlin
Society director Chen Hsueh-chin (陳雪琴) said that to prevent similar incidents, the society’s director-general Chang Tzu-chien (張子見) launched a campaign to raise funds to hire two security guards.
The guards are to work in shifts to protect the birds around the clock, Chen said.
Their responsibilities include stopping people who try to use the fairy pittas’ humming to entice the birds or attempt to breach security nets set up around the birds’ habitats, she said.
They would also be in charge of contacting central and local government agencies tasked with protecting the birds if necessary, she said.
Chen said that the society would need to add about NT$90,000 to its payroll.
Chang said that he would coordinate with other agencies in funding the program, and that he would continue to support the program next year even if the authorities decide not to participate.
Chen Chin-tsun (陳清圳), former director-general of the association, urged the public to refrain from behavior that might disturb or hurt the birds.
READY: The CGA said it closely monitored China’s maritime exercise, deployed vessels to shadow the Chinese ships one-on-one and set up emergency response centers Chinese navy and coast guard ships have returned to China, signaling the end of a massive maritime exercise, authorities said yesterday. The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) released images it said showed Chinese vessels sailing north in rough seas past Taiwan on Thursday, on their way to China. “All the Chinese coast guard went back to China yesterday, so although they have not officially made any announcement, we consider it over,” CGA Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽) said. Beijing has not confirmed the drills and the Chinese Ministry of National Defense did not say whether the maneuvers had taken place when asked at a
People can take the Taipei MRT free of charge if they access it at Nanjing Sanmin Station or Taipei Arena Station on the Green Line between 12am and 6am on Jan. 1, the Taipei Department of Transportation said on Friday, outlining its plans to ease crowding during New Year’s events in the capital. More than 200,000 people are expected to attend New Year’s Eve events in Taipei, with singer A-mei (張惠妹) performing at the Taipei Dome and the city government’s New Year’s Eve party at Taipei City Hall Plaza, the department said. As people have tended to use the MRT’s Blue or
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: As some roads would be fully or partially closed, people are advised to take the MRT, with services expanded to accommodate more riders This year’s Taipei Marathon, which has obtained its first gold label certification from World Athletics, is to be held from 5am to 1pm tomorrow and would have 28,000 participants. The race is to start from the Taipei City Plaza and would go through major roads throughout the city, with traffic control implemented from 6am to 2pm, officials said. The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system and New Taipei City MRT Circle line would start operating at 5am on the day of the race, they said. The race would cover Renai Road, Xinyi Road, Hangzhou S Road, Aiguo east and west roads,
Taipei is participating in Osaka’s Festival of Lights this year, with a 3m-tall bubble tea light installation symbolizing Taiwan’s bubble tea culture. The installation is designed as a bubble tea cup and features illustrations of Taipei’s iconic landmarks, such as Taipei 101, the Red House and North Gate, as well as soup dumplings and the matchmaking deity the Old Man Under the Moon (月下老人), affectionately known as Yue Lao (月老). Taipei and Osaka have collaborated closely on tourism and culture since Taipei first participated in the festival in 2018, the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism said. In February, Osaka represented
RSS