A Bittersweet Farewell:

The rhythm of life on the wing

The coastal belt from Yunlin to Kaohsiung serves as the most crucial wintering grounds for the black-faced spoonbill in East Asia. Each October, riding the northeast monsoon, they migrate south to spend the winter in the wetlands, fish ponds, and salt pans here along Taiwan’s southwestern coast. As temperatures rise in early spring, they gradually fly back north to places like the Korean Peninsula to breed, thus completing their annual migratory cycle.

Philip Kuo, executive director of the Wild Bird Society of Tainan, details the spoonbill’s life rhythm: Chicks born in early May must learn to fly and forage within a very tight timeframe. By October, as freezing temperatures approach the north, these mere five-month-old juveniles embark on their first major journey in life, following their parents over a thousand kilometers southward. While their migration routes span the coasts of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, and the Philippines, over 60 percent of the wintering spoonbill population chooses Taiwan as their primary cold weather sanctuary.

Having spent the winter in Taiwan, the black-faced spoonbills have begun their northbound journey, meaning the window to spot them is rapidly closing.

The spoonbill migration network

This north-south journey does more than just link together an East Asian ecological corridor, it also creates a beautiful international relay of, and friendship among, birdwatchers across multiple locations.

“A group of adult birds already took off in mid-March, and just two or three days later, birders in Korea reported their arrival on the Korean Peninsula,” Kuo shares. “These adults needed to head back early to secure prime breeding territories.”

Wintering spoonbill populations exhibit diverse habitat preferences depending on their location. In Taiwan, they primarily forage and rest in abandoned salt pans and fallow fish ponds. In Hong Kong, they favor intertidal zones. Meanwhile, the west coast of the Korean Peninsula serves as their main breeding ground, where local birders and researchers even throw “birthday parties” for the newly hatched chicks each May. Through long-term observation and data sharing among the transnational birding community, a complete picture of this migratory route has gradually emerged.

In 2025, the global community officially designated the third Saturday of March as “International Black-Faced Spoonbill Day,” a milestone that symbolizes the deepening of cross-border conservation collaboration.

The spoonbills have donned their vibrant yellow breeding plumage—a captivating sight exclusive to this spring season. (courtesy of Philip Kuo)

Conservation challenges

Back in the late 1980s, the global population of the black-faced spoonbill had plummeted to fewer than 300 individuals. However, years of dedicated conservation have yielded remarkable results. According to the “2026 International Black-Faced Spoonbill Census,” a total of 7,746 of these birds were recorded globally. Taiwan’s wintering population reached a staggering 4,719—accounting for over 60 percent of the world’s total—distributed primarily along the coasts of Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. Consequently, its threat status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has been downgraded from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable.”

While this population rebound is certainly encouraging, Kuo cautions that with the total number still falling short of 10,000, genetic diversity remains a concern. Furthermore, factors including habitat loss and water pollution continue to threaten their survival. Moreover, in recent years, insufficient rainfall has led to an increase of decaying fish in aquaculture ponds, raising the risk of botulism outbreaks among the spoonbills.

Over 60 percent of the global black-faced spoonbill population chooses Taiwan as its winter sanctuary. (courtesy of Philip Kuo)

Protecting the spoonbill protects biodiversity

Locally, Taiwanese people affectionately refer to this bird as pn̄g-sî-gô (rice-paddle goose) or oo-bīn-lā-pue (black-faced water-stirrer). These delightful monikers perfectly describe its distinctive, spoon-shaped bill and its unique foraging method of sweeping its beak side-to-side through the water to catch fish.

Kuo observes that a delicate symbiotic relationship exists between the black-faced spoonbill and other herons. “When the spoonbills stir up the water, small fish scatter, making it easier for great egrets waiting nearby to hunt, while little egrets follow closely behind the spoonbills to catch the leftovers.” This interaction beautifully illustrates the interconnected ecological web of the wetlands, where species share resources and rely on one another.

“By protecting a flagship species like the black-faced spoonbill, we are actually safeguarding the entire habitat,” Kuo says. When their environment is properly maintained, all other species within that ecosystem benefit, ultimately preserving the area’s biodiversity.

When the autumn winds rise again, we look forward to reuniting with the black-faced spoonbills. In the midst of their cyclical migrations year after year, the protection of their wetlands has quietly evolved into an enduring pact between humanity and nature.

Further Reading:

The Black-Faced Spoonbill’s Second Home

A Fusion of Culture and Environment: Taijiang Old and New

It is common to see four or five different species of waterbirds foraging together in a single pond. Protecting the black-faced spoonbill ultimately means safeguarding the vibrant biodiversity of these entire wetlands.