Every autumn, numerous cattle egrets (黃頭鷺) descend upon Taixing Village (太興村) in Chiayi County’s Meishan Township in central Taiwan, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that attracts the attention and admiration of both tourists and locals alike. This spectacular phenomenon in Taixing Village is commonly known as “Wan Lu Chao Feng” (萬鷺朝鳳).
For more interesting photos of the annual autumn migration of cattle egrets in Chiayi, Taiwan, please watch the following video.
The history of the autumn spectacle of cattle egrets
With a history of more than 200 years, “Wan Lu Chao Feng (萬鷺朝鳳)” literally means the phenomenon of 10,000 egrets flying toward “Phoenix Cave (鳳凰穴),” a valley near the Shengmaoshu River (生毛樹溪) in Taixing Village of Chiayi County’s Meishan Township.
Although cattle egrets migrate every year and can be seen in many places in Taiwan, they tend to circle around Phoenix Cave for a while after landing in the tranquil village of Taixing in autumn.
It is estimated that 2 to 3 million cattle egrets pass through Taixing Village every year. Sometimes, tens of thousands can be seen in a single day. At peak times, more than 100,000 may pass through the valley in 30 to 50 groups in a single day.
The cattle egret
The cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a medium-sized avian species recognized for its striking white feathers and graceful appearance, with a contrasting yellow-orange bill and legs. While certain populations of these birds engage in migration, others exhibit a post-breeding dispersal pattern.
They are commonly found in a variety of habitats, such as flooded grasslands, wetlands, rice fields, and other agricultural land in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate zones throughout the world. They often forage close to where cattle are grazing, looking for insects and other small prey disturbed by the movements of the cattle. In Taiwan, it is common to see cattle egrets perching on the backs of buffalo in rice paddies.
The migration route of the autumn spectacle of cattle egrets in Taiwan
Every year, as the days grow shorter and the air becomes crisper, nature in Taiwan puts on a breathtaking display. Numerous cattle egrets, which travel great distances from Japan to the warmer Philippines, stop over in Taiwan during their annual autumn migration.
It is believed that during their extensive migration, these herons meticulously follow a specific route in Taiwan. They begin by tracing the Dahan River (大漢溪) in New Taipei City to reach the Shimen Reservoir (石門水庫) in Taoyuan City in northern Taiwan. And then they continue their southbound journey by passing through Jincheng Lake (金城湖) in Hsinchu County.
After that, they further fly along the upper reaches of the Qingshui River (清水溪) in Nantou County’s Zhushan Township until they reach Zhanghu Village (樟湖村) in Yunlin County’s Gukeng Township. Further along, they traverse Shengmaoshu River, a tributary of the upper reaches of Qingshui River, eventually arriving at Taixing Village (太興村) in Chiayi County’s Meishan Township.
The autumn spectacle of cattle egrets this year
Cattle egrets can be spotted in various parts of Taiwan throughout the year, but it’s the phenomenon taking place at Chiayi County’s Taixing Community from August to October that is truly breathtaking and well worth a visit.
When the cattle egrets arrive in Meishan Township, they gather in large flocks, transforming the landscape into a sea of white feathers. The sight of tens of thousands of these elegant birds flying in V-shaped formations across the valley is indeed a sight to behold and a true testament to the beauty of migration.
According to Chien Ching-hui (簡慶輝), chairman of the Taixing Community Development Association, the phenomenon of “Ten Thousand Egrets Flying Toward the Phoenix Cave” this year first appeared at 8 a.m. on August 14, nine days earlier than last year. He also said that the best spots to view this stunning spectacle are the Taixing Guesthouse (太興山莊), the Dadi Teahouse (大地茶席), the Qiaoyun Inn (巧雲小棧), the Chaoxie Tea Factory (朝夕茶廠), the Herballegend Teahouse (草本傳奇), the Taixingyan Temple (泰興巖), and the Chiayi County Highway No. 154 at the 9.5Km mark (嘉154鄉道9.5K處).
Chien added that there had been more than 50 groups of cattle egrets traversing over the Shengmaoshu Valley in a single day. He also pointed out that, based on past experience, the peak of the spectacular phenomenon may fall between the solar terms of White Dew (白露) (September 8) and the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋) (September 29) this year.
Conclusion
The annual autumn migration of cattle egrets in Taixing Village has become a much-anticipated event. Tourists from all over Taiwan and beyond flock to the village to witness this natural wonder. Locals are proud of their village’s role as a temporary sanctuary for these elegant herons.
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