Eagles, vultures, and hawks are a remarkable group of birds. Their imposing looks, imperious glare, razor-sharp claws, and magnificent air while soaring have made them objects of admiration since ancient times.
But like other avian species on Taiwan, birds of prey are facing a serious threat to their existence from the destruction of their habitat.
Despite their occupying the very top of the food chain, certain of their biological characteristics actually make them quite vulnerable.
They have a low reproduction rate and a slow maturation rate compared to other birds. Most reproduce just once a year, and of the four or five eggs that are laid, often only one chick hatches and survives to fend for itself. And they take longer than other birds to come of age and reproduce.
Many birds of prey are accustomed to migrating in flocks and can be seen in the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America as well as Taiwan. Their following fixed routes and roosting at fixed spots along the way increases their susceptibility to capture by man, often entailing heavy losses. And besides their inherent biological vulnerability, birds of prey on Taiwan face many other direct or indirect pressures from man.
Population increases and urban expansion have led to the exploitation of marginal lands, while deforestation and the filling of estuaries, swamps, and tidal areas have driven out the birds that originally lived there. The extra energy they have had to expend searching for food and nesting places has also reduced their numbers.
Eagles, vultures, and hawks feed on mice, snakes, insects, and other small animals, and pesticides sprayed on fields, poisons used to exterminate rodents, toxic wastes emitted by factories, and detergents released by households often accumulate in their food, causing their eggs to have thin, frail shells and lowering their fertility.
Judged from their contributions to man, birds of prey are much more valuable as live birds than as stuffed specimens.
Studies show that a single sparrow hawk catches at least 290 rodents a year, along with many sparrows and insects, thereby protecting crops and preventing destruction to forests. One of the reasons forestry authorities have had such poor results exterminating field mice, squirrels, and other pests despite spending so much money each year is the reduction in numbers of birds of prey, the pests' natural enemies, which has allowed them to increase to harmful proportions.
If we do not wish that birds of prey disappear from the sky, then we must take action. Setting up legal safeguards is of prime importance, and the Wild Animal Conservation Law that was passed on June 3 represents a major milestone in the preservation of wildlife on Taiwan. Besides legislation, which is external and compulsory, the best way to get at the heart of the problem is through environmental education.
In addition, the areas they inhabit year-round or rest in during migration should be designated as sanctuaries to provide them with a safe environment and untainted sources of food.
Finally, international cooperation is even more important. Each country along their paths of migration must plan and work together to achieve effective protection.
Although their habitats are decreasing, birds of prey can still be observed in many places on Taiwan. Endemic species are easiest to spot in the morning, from sunrise to noon, especially on clear days after a storm, when they can be seen hovering in hot air currents in the sky.
Sighting migratory and transient species requires knowing when and where they pass over the island. You should keep in mind that they like to perch in high locations with a broad view and should pay attention to the tops of tall trees to improve your chances.
And when you catch a glimpse of a black shadow rising from the top of a pine tree and gliding over a mountain ravine, or gaze at a flock of thousands upon thousands migrating across the sky, your spirit will certainly soar.
[Picture Caption]
An eagle catches a fish at Keelung harbor. Oil on the water surface is a growing threat to the birds' existence.
A gray-faced buzzard eagle perched for a rest.
The Hodgson's hawk eagle is the most highly prized bird of prey on Taiwan and is disappearing for just that reason.
A Formosan crested goshawk (right) meets up with a Southeast China thick-billed crow. It looks like aerial combat is about to begin.
A Formosan serpent-eagle circling in the sky.
A Horsefield's sparrow hawk on its way back north in April pauses for a rest.
A flock of Horsefield's sparrow hawks, which migrate across southern Taiwan. The residents there all know that "when the wind comes off the mountains, the hawks appear!"
The Formosan crested goshawk, like other birds of prey, knows that despite being blessed with a sharp beak and claws, it still faces pressure to its existence. Soft, furry, white feathers are visible around its belly when it flies.
A Formosan crested goshawk flying flat out lodges a "serious protest" with a Formosan serpent-eagle that has encroached on its airepace.
"Elegy of a Hero": What fate awaits this captured gray-faced buzzard eagle?
Their imposing looks make birds of prey popular with many people for raising. Shown here is a Formosan serpent-eagle that has lost its freedom.
An eagle catches a fish at Keelung harbor. Oil on the water surface is a growing threat to the birds' existence.
An eagle catches a fish at Keelung harbor. Oil on the water surface is a growing threat to the birds' existence.
A gray-faced buzzard eagle perched for a rest.
The Hodgson's hawk eagle is the most highly prized bird of prey on Taiwan and is disappearing for just that reason.
A Formosan crested goshawk （right） meets up with a Southeast China thick-billed crow. It looks like aerial combat is about to begin.
A Formosan serpent-eagle circling in the sky.
A Horsefield's sparrow hawk on its way back north in April pauses for a rest.
A flock of Horsefield's sparrow hawks, which migrate across southern Taiwan. The residents there all know that "when the wind comes off the mountains, the hawks appear!".
The Formosan crested goshawk, like other birds of prey, knows that despite being blessed with a sharp beak and claws, it still faces pressure to its existence. Soft, furry, white feathers are visible around its belly when it flies.
A Formosan crested goshawk flying flat out lodges a "serious protest" with a Formosan serpent-eagle that has encroached on its airepace.
A Formosan crested goshawk flying flat out lodges a "serious protest" with a Formosan serpent-eagle that has encroached on its airepace.
"Elegy of a Hero": What fate awaits this captured gray-faced buzzard eagle?
Their imposing looks make birds of prey popular with many people for raising. Shown here is a Formosan serpent-eagle that has lost its freedom.
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