Black-faced Spoonbill Wildlife Sanctuary

The Cigu Wetlands, made famous by the black-faced spoonbills, become a must-visit destination for bird enthusiasts every winter. This area is located on the reclaimed land north of the Zengwen River estuary. What was originally just an ordinary wetland ecosystem gained global attention from bird conservationists when the black-faced spoonbills favored this site as their wintering habitat. In addition to large numbers of black-faced spoonbills, every winter until the following spring, the area also hosts various waterfowl such as gulls, egrets, and sandpipers, along with a rich ecological landscape featuring crabs and mangroves. The black-faced spoonbill is a very rare bird species globally, listed as endangered. Every October, they fly from South Korea or northeastern China, north of Taiwan, to the Zengwen River estuary in Cigu for wintering. Black-faced spoonbills arrive in Taiwan between September and October each year and remain until around March to May of the following year before gradually departing. This period is the best time to observe black-faced spoonbills in Cigu. As black-faced spoonbills rest during the day and forage at night, observing them through binoculars during the day will mostly show them clustered together, almost motionless. Starting around 4 to 5 PM, they begin to play, bathe, preen each other's feathers, and become active. If you're lucky, you might even witness the majestic sight of black-faced spoonbills taking flight. In fact, besides the well-known black-faced spoonbills, the Zengwen River estuary is home to over 200 species of migratory birds, boasting rich avian resources. Common migratory birds include gulls and sandpipers, while common resident birds include spotted doves and Chinese bulbuls. Focusing solely on migratory birds, a greater variety of species can be observed during winter.