TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Bird enthusiasts and local authorities have spotted a rare great crested grebe resting at the Beinan Estuary Important Wetland (卑南溪口國家級濕地) on Thursday (Feb. 5). The Taitung County Government is urging the public to temporarily avoid the area to minimize disturbances to this sensitive migratory bird.
Recently, multiple birdwatchers reported sightings of the great crested grebe at the estuary's right bank observation pond. The Taitung County Government plans to implement soft persuasion and diversion management measures, adhering to national wetland conservation priorities. The county government emphasized that the grebe is a rare winter visitor to Taiwan, highly sensitive to habitat conditions and human interference.
The county government has issued a call for residents to refrain from engaging in stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and other water activities at the estuary observation pond. They aim to prevent disturbances that might disrupt the grebe's resting and foraging patterns, which could cause the bird to leave prematurely, potentially hindering conservation efforts.
The government noted that recent water activities in the area could negatively impact the grebe's natural behavior. They stressed that the observation pond primarily serves ecological observation and conservation purposes, with conditions not necessarily suitable for water sports. For both public safety and ecological preservation, the government urges people to avoid the area during the bird's stay.