My Future in Birding

For as long as I can remember, I have had a deep passion for birds. Birding isn’t a very popular hobby or passion for young people in Taiwan, so most of the birders I know are either retired or almost retired. For all the years I have been birding, I have never met someone my age who shares the same birding passion. Most of my friends are more interested in video games and aren’t particularly interested in birding or nature, so I hope that in the future I'll be able to find others like me that eat, sleep, and drink birding. Now that I’m getting ready to enter my high school years, I have begun to think more seriously about what I want to do in the future. I’m really hopeful that I can find some way to make a career out of my love for birding and nature.

Taiwan Yellow Tit

I hope to participate in ornithological research in the future, observing birds in the field. I think I would prefer field research, because it involves live birds. I also hope that I will be able to help conserve bird habitats and protect birds in the future, because I care deeply about them. From my volunteer work with the Wild Bird Society, I have seen how birds are a bellwether species. Natural areas that have been preserved or restored have seen dramatic upswings in populations of wintering birds like the globally endangered Black-faced Spoonbill. It is through the work of birders and ornithologists that these results have been possible. I hope by doing research on birds I can raise awareness about climate change and deforestation, and bring positive change to Taiwan.

Swinhoe's Pheasant

I hope to let the public know what's happening, and make an impact on government policies. For example, although many people think green energy, especially solar power, is a 100% positive thing, birders know first-hand that solar farms have greatly reduced the space wetland birds have, making their chances of surviving even lower. I hope that in the future, research will help the public understand the delicate nature of these ecosystems, and introduce change to government policies, helping to find a balance between green energy and environmental preservation.

Amur Stonechat

~Article and Photos by Isaac Lang

Comments

Daxueshan

A Swinhoe's Pheasant If anyone ever were to ask: "What's your favorite birding spot in Taiwan?" I think I would have a lot of trouble answering the question succinctly, but Daxueshan would definitely be near the top of the list. I have only been there a few times, but every time I go there, it never ceases to amaze me. It is unique in that it has very diverse flora and fauna and with a road stretching from sea level to nearly 2500 meters, you can see lowland birds all the way up to alpine forest birds. The forest road going up Daxueshan is 50 kilometers long and there are birding spots all up and down its length. A Collared Bush-Robin Daxueshan is renown for being the most reliable place to see nearly all of Taiwan's endemic bird species, including the Mikado Pheasant, Taiwan's national bird. It is a deep, rich blue and has the typically long tail of a pheasant, but unfortunately, I have only ever seen the duller, brownish female. Since almost all other endem...

Kenting Raptor Migration

Crested Serpent-Eagle Every October, my family travels south to Kenting (in Pingtung) on the national Day of Taiwan. We visit for the purpose of seeing the breath-taking migration of raptors - thousands upon thousands - journeying to their wintering grounds. Because Taiwan is a key rest stop for birds, there are many places to observe this particular migration. A kettle of raptors Of all the migrating raptors, the Grey-faced Buzzard and the Chinese Sparrowhawk are the ones that are the most abundant. Hundreds of thousands pass through Taiwan every year. The Grey-faced Buzzard is a medium-sized raptor, with a mouse-gray face, a black-tipped beak, a very obvious throat streak, brownish wings, horizontal streaking in the underbody, and bright orange talons. The Chinese Sparrowhawk on the other hand is much smaller in size, has a blueish-gray back and head, and black-tipped wings. Adults lack a throat streak, whereas juveniles have one. Grey-faced Buzzard This year we had a slight...

The Windbreak Forest

The windbreak forest in Tainan is one of my favorite birding spots to visit, especially during the fall and spring migration. The windbreak forest is located in Qigu, right next to the ocean. Its main purpose is to stop strong sea winds and sand from blowing futher inland. The forest is mainly composed of beefwood trees, which look similar to conifers. The windbreak forest is typically a short rest-stop for migrating birds. This makes it equal parts frustrating and rewarding, because when I hear of an exotic bird reported there, it is often gone by the time I have a chance to check. However, sometimes I get lucky and see some lifers there. Ashy Minivet Some common birds found there are Pale Thrush, Brown-headed Thrush, Black-faced Bunting, Manchurian Bush-warbler, Oriental Magpie-robin, and White’s Thrush. Some more exotic birds that I’ve seen there include Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, and Red-flanked Bluetail. Pechora Pipit I usua...

Tainan Young Birder Blog

Search This Blog