Introduction to the Avian Resources of Taiwan

 Introduction to the Avian Resources of Taiwan

Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area International Bird Race

An emerald on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean: Taiwan

Geographically, Taiwan is located on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, a small island (about 36,000 square kilometers) on the eastern rim of the Eurasian plate. Topographically, the island is elongated from north to south, being somewhat broader in the central part. Circling the island is more than 1000 km of coastline, with cliffs in the east and sandy plains in the west. The Central Mountain Range is a sawtooth formation of peaks piled on top of one another, with more than 200 peaks throughout the island exceeding 3000 m in elevation (with the highest, Yushan, at 3952 m). Because of great changes in elevation, several environments have formed of tropical, subtropical, temperate, and frigid zones. In addition, the climate is generally warm and rain is abundant, so the vegetation is luxuriant, and many species of organisms proliferate in this biologically varied and complex territory.

Because of being separated from the Asian mainland for a very long time, Taiwan has 29 endemic species of birds. In addition, each year in spring and autumn, there are southerly moving migrants from as far north as Siberia that stop in Taiwan. In the breeding season, gulls, terns, and pelagic birds are attracted to nest on many uninhabited islets off the coast, which are also ecologically unique areas of Taiwan.

According to the 2020Taiwan bird checklist, to the present, 674 species of birds have been recorded since the Republic of China (Taiwan)has had jurisdiction over the territory (1949), which includes the main island of Taiwan; neighboring smaller islets of the Penghu Archipelago (the Pescadores), Orchid Island (Lanyu), Green Island (Ludao), Jinmen, Matsu; three islets off the northeastern coast of Taiwan of Huapingyu, Pengjiayu, and Mianhuayu; and the Pratas Islands and the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.