Migratory birds feast at fishponds in Chiayi
Migratory birds feast at fishponds in Chiayi
2026-02-25
Lots of migratory birds have been flocking to Taiwan for the winter. As fishponds empty their pools and harvest their fish around this time, these birds gather by the hundreds at these now-shallow ponds to have a feast. Conservationists and birdwatchers alike are thrilled to see the ponds teaming with life.
As the sun rises in Chiayi’s Budai Township, a flock of birds searches for their destination from the sky. When they see the right fishpond, they lock on their target and prepare to compete for food.
Hundreds of birds gather here, some holding their territory in the pond while others circle in the air above, ready to dive at any moment. These are all migratory birds that have come to Taiwan for the winter, including long-legged egrets and herons, seagulls and terns, and even the protected black-faced spoonbill, all known for their fishing abilities.
Su Chia-hung
Bird photographer
There are lots of fishponds here in Budai and Dongshi. Lots of black-faced spoonbills and egrets go foraging in the ones with low water levels.
Fishponds usually drain their water and harvest fish around the Lunar New Year, the same time when migratory birds are passing through. These now-shallow ponds become their feeding grounds as fishers leave them some food.
Su Chia-hung
Bird photographer
Lots of our fishers care about conservation, so they leave food for them for the winter, like some small fish. This is great for our domestic conservation efforts.
The kindness of fishers has led the once-rare black-faced spoonbill to come in large groups to these fishponds, looking for food in the shallow water. Budai has become a haven for migratory birds and birdwatchers alike.
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#fishpond #bird #birdwatching #migration #migratorybird #Chiayi #Budai #fishing
魚塭抽水換池成"候鳥Buffet" 上千鳥群擠魚塭享用大餐
2026-02-25
最近遠道來台灣度冬的候鳥群們，正好遇到魚塭收成抽水換池的時節，布袋一帶的養殖魚塭只要出現淺水的跡象，候鳥群呼朋引伴，數百甚至上千擠在同一個魚塭裡，彷彿也在享用團圓大餐，而這樣的景象也有感人的保育意識在裡面。
一大早嘉義布袋鎮的旭日緩緩升起，靈敏的鳥群就像是魚群搜尋雷達一般，早已經在空中飛翔搜尋，發現目標魚塭之後，立刻鎖定目標競相搶食。
數百甚至上千的鳥群，一些在魚塭中佔據地盤，等待目標啄食，有的在空中盤旋，像戰鬥機一樣隨時俯衝，候鳥們的種類相當多，長腿的有大白鷺小白鷺、蒼鷺，空中的有海鷗燕鷗等等，也有保育的黑面琵鷺，各顯抓魚看家本領。
[[嘉義鳥類攝影專家 蘇家弘]]
“像我們在布袋啦、東石啦，都可以看到很多的魚塭，有些水就比較低一點，很多的像黑面琵鷺啦、中小白鷺啦，都會去覓食。”
農曆春節期間家家過年，也正好是養殖漁戶魚塭抽水換池的時節，正好符合候鳥們的造訪，成了他們的餐廳，而這也是有些漁民們自動自發的保育意識。
[[嘉義鳥類攝影專家 蘇家弘]]
“我們很多漁民都會有保育的觀念，都會留一些食物給牠們來度冬，會留一些那個小魚啦，對我們國內的一個保育非常棒。”
漁民們有心或無心的善舉，讓以往難得一見的保育類黑面琵鷺，常常成群結隊的在魚塭出現，靈敏地在水池列隊覓食，常讓愛鳥人士看得目不轉睛，也讓布袋區域成了候鳥和賞鳥的天堂。
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