(Central News Agency reporter Yang Shumin, Taipei, 25th) The global simultaneous census of black-faced spoonbills in 2024 broke the record, with Taiwan experiencing a slight decrease for the first time, with 93 fewer black-faced spoonbills. The Wild Bird Society of the Republic of China said today that the population in major distribution areas such as Chiayi, Tainan, and Kaohsiung has decreased slightly, and the reduction of habitats such as photovoltaic development will affect population changes.
The Forestry Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Wild Bird Society of the Republic of China collaborated to release the results of the “2024 Global Synchronous Census of Black-faced Spoonbills”, with a total of 6,988 individuals, an increase of 355 from last year, breaking the record; Taiwan maintains the world’s largest winter area, but a total of 4,135 Only, there was a slight decrease of 93 for the first time.
Regarding changes in population and migration distribution, Lu Yiwei, secretary-general of the Bird Society of the Republic of China, pointed out that compared with last year, the number of birds in core wintering areas such as Tainan decreased by 191, Chiayi decreased by 60, and Kaohsiung decreased by 27; the Zhuoshui River mouth in the north increased by 94. , Pingtung in the south increased by 105, showing that individual black-faced spoonbills are spreading to the north and south.
He emphasized that in fact, the key to conservation is habitat, and various changes in environmental conditions will have an impact. For example, the Forestry Department promotes fishermen to participate in the ecological salary payment program. The area of friendly fish farms in Tainan City in 2011 and 2012 is about 200 hectares, which can be increased. foraging areas, but it is still not enough. For example, some fish ponds in the Qigu area of Tainan have been developed into fish-electricity symbiosis photovoltaics. The continuous development of various land uses has caused the habitat to shrink, which will cause the black pipe to shift its feeding area, thereby affecting Changes in the number of ethnic groups.
Changes in temperature will also have an impact by changing the habitat environment. Lu Yiwei said that in recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of black herons reported. From September 2023 to April 2024, the Tainan City Wild Bird Society and the Institute of Biodiversity of the Ministry of Agriculture rescued 86 black herons (73 in Tainan and 9 in Kaohsiung). (2 in Chiayi, 1 in Yilan, and 1 in Pingtung), almost double the number in the same period of the previous year. 25 of them have been released into the wild after rescue, and 2 are in recuperation, mostly due to botulism. Toxin poisoning.
He called on bird lovers or those who care about the environment to use citizen science platforms such as eBird and iNaturalist to record. If you witness a suspected injured black Piper, please report it directly to the local county and city government conservation authority so that problems can be discovered early.
The Forestry Department added that Clostridium botulinum originally exists in the environment and usually does not breed in large numbers. Unless continuous high temperatures cause a lack of oxygen in still waters, dead fish will breed. Other fish will be weakened and die due to toxins in the environment. When they are about to die, Black Piper will If you eat it, you will be poisoned. The environment must be cleaned up. We hold meetings with the Tainan City Government every year to discuss and continue to strengthen environmental cleanup. (Editor: Chen Zhengwei) 1130425
