Tainan farmers use raptor perches to keep away destructive vermin
Tainan farmers use raptor perches to keep away destructive vermin
2026-03-27
Farmers in Tainan are constantly battling mice and birds to keep their crops safe. To promote ecologically friendly farming, the Tainan Agriculture Bureau over the past two years has been installing raptor perches on farms. They give a place for hawks and other birds of prey to rest and wait for their chance to hunt field mice, lizards, and other small animals. There are now 21 set up by the city government and farmers themselves, helping farmers reduce damage to their crops.
Some farmers tie ribbons to trellises, while others stick on reflective tape. Some even speak over a megaphone. All of these methods are meant to drive away birds, mice, and other vermin. But they all have their limitations.
Farmer
Tainan
These are our tomatoes. But they’re very smart. Just as they start changing color, they eat them. And they’ll jump after eating, so it leaves a big pile on the ground.
To help prevent farmers’ hard-earned work from being destroyed time and again, the Tainan City Government in 2024 started installing raptor perches on some farms. They give the birds a place to rest and keep watch for lizards, field mice, sparrows, and other small prey. It also helps out the farmers.
Farmer
Tainan
When they see prey, they’ll fly out to catch it. Then they’ll fly back to eat it straight away. So these perches are extremely useful. We also don’t need to buy any rodenticide.
Perch installer
Tainan
You can use bamboo or iron poles. Or just attach any horizontal bar directly to a tree to make a raptor perch. That’s the easiest way.
Raptor perches can not only reduce crop damage caused by wild animals, but also saves farmers from using pesticide. The city has already set up 10 perches at farms in Dongshan, Guantian, Danei, and Guanmiao districts, while farmers themselves have installed 11 more for a total of 21. It’s like an all-you-can-eat buffet for the birds.
Chu Chien-ming
Tainan nature conservation chief
We’re using the food chain itself. Setting up a food chain. The longer the food chain, the healthier the environment will be.
After setting up the perches, farmers have noticed a clear increase in birds of prey spending time around their fields. The city is considering installing more of them to share the benefits with more farmers.
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#farming #birdsofprey #raptor #birds #foodchain #pestcontrol #Tainan #fieldmice #hawk #perches #birdperch #rodenticide #pesticide
台南推動"猛禽棲架"防鼠害 守住農民心血
2026-03-27
台南有許多農民都深受鼠害和鳥害之苦，為了促進農業生產與生態保育發展，台南市政府農業局近年來開始推動設置猛禽棲架，讓老鷹等猛禽，可以在棲架上休息，同時等待時機，捕捉在農田中的田鼠、蜥蜴等野生動物，目前市府加上農民自主增設的，共有21座，減少農民作物被破壞的機率。
有的農民在架子綁上緞帶，有的使用反光片，有的甚至會拿大聲公親自來廣播，種種的方式都是為了驅趕鳥類或田鼠等野生動物，但這麼做效果其實很有限。
[[農民]]
“這我們番茄，而且牠很聰明喔，它只要一點點轉色就牠們就開始吃，啊吃了之後牠們會跳，所以你在地板上還會看到一大堆。”
為了避免農民辛苦耕種的作物一再被破壞，台南市政府從2024年開始，就在部分農田區域，設置了猛禽棲架，讓老鷹等猛禽，可以站在上面休息，同時抓準時機，抓捕田野間的蜥蜴、老鼠或是麻雀等，減少了農民的困擾。
[[農民]]
“看到食物，馬上下去抓，抓起來牠在上面就可以直接食用，所以這個部分棲架它的功用非常的大，又可以避免用到一些老鼠藥之類的。”
[[棲架達人]]
“竹子，或者是鐵管，還是一些，可以直接利用樹上下去綁一個橫桿，讓它做棲架讓老鷹棲息，這是最簡單。”
猛禽棲架的設置，不只可以減少野生動物對農作物造成的傷害，還能減少使用農藥，目前台南市在東山、官田、大內及關廟農田設置10座，農民也自主增設了11座，目前共有21座的猛禽棲架，彷彿就是猛禽的自助餐廳。
[[台南市農業局森林及自然保育科科長 朱健明]]
“用食物鏈的概念啦，產生一個食物鏈，這樣子的話食物鏈愈長的話，我們生態環境就愈好。”
根據了解，在棲架設置之後，猛禽停棲率，已經有明顯提升，市府也會評估是否擴大設置，讓更多農民都能受惠。
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