Tainan Travel

The mud deposits formed by river flow have created a great environment for mangrove growth, and the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) is the dominant species in the area. Given the rich ecosystems of fish, shrimps, crabs, and shellfish, the area has become a transitory habitat of the little egret (Egretta garzetta), the black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), and even the black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) in winter.
 
The black-faced spoonbill is an endangered species with less than 3,000 birds across the globe. Currently, Taijiang is the winter habitat of most black-faced spoonbills in the world, with nearly over 1,000 birds every winter as observed in recent years. Before returning to the north, they forage frequently in the area in spring and are sometimes spotted in retired fish farms. Preferring nocturnal activities, they rest in a flock on spacious lowly disturbed beaches or fish farms in the day. They are called the “black-faced dancer” because of their elegant flying posture with the neck leaning forward. When foraging, they break into small groups and insert their slightly opened spoonbills in the water shaking left and right to catch small fish and shrimps.
 
Inside the black-faced spoonbill watching pavilion, there are high-power telescopes and cameras for the public to watch the black-faced bird and upload the captures to the internet in real time. As a perfect location for watching birds, there are introduction of the black-faced spoonbill near the bird-watching pavilion. Visitors who want to know more about the bird can visit the site at specific times for the guided tours offered by volunteers.