Tou-Liao Big Pond Bird Watching Introduction
If you love ecotourism, you must be familiar with the Toutiao Great Pond! The Xinfuzhong on Zhu dao Road is what the general public refers to as Toutiao Great Pond. It is an artificial pond, with a total area of 19 hectares across two ponds. Besides being used for irrigation, local farmers also use it for fish farming. The well-maintained natural environment of Toutiao Great Pond attracts many birds, especially during the winter months when migratory birds flock here, resembling a bird exhibition. Farmers drain the large pond every three years, while the small pond is drained every two years, making it a great time to observe the hunting display of fish eagles; the long, narrow wings of the fish eagle circle high in the sky, accelerating into a dive once it spots its prey and quickly extending its claws for the catch. The thrill of watching this live show is even more intense than watching the National Geographic Channel, and being lucky enough to witness it is incredibly exciting! Besides fish eagles, the sight of other raptors like black kites, peregrine falcons, merlins, crested goshawks, and rufous-bellied hawk-eagles is also not to be missed! The "island in the pond" within the large pond is home to the famous "Temple of Earth God in the Water." After the Earth God was moved to Fuchang Temple, this artificially created island surrounded by greenery became a habitat for various herons, including great egrets, little egrets, grey herons, and black-crowned night herons. Sometimes, one may also spot little ducks in the calm lake, quietly enjoying the serene scenery and feeling the peaceful passage of time is also a form of enjoyment. In winter, giant-billed crows, commonly known as crows, are often seen here. These aggressive giant-billed crows will engage in aerial battles with raptors for food but amusingly surrender to much smaller birds like the black-crowned night heron. Other bird species you might have the chance to observe include rock pigeons, kingfishers, white-headed bulbuls, Formosan blue magpies, and Taiwan black-browed reed warblers, among dozens of others. Bring your binoculars and camera to fully appreciate the joy of birdwatching—you definitely won’t be disappointed!
