Hsiu Tso Port Wetland Introduction
Following the west coastal highway and traveling south past Zhuwei Fishing Port, you can explore the coastal paradise where the Laojiekeng River and the Shuangxi River converge. The sea is beautiful, the sky is blue, shrike birds fly gracefully, mudskippers' cute eyes are open wide, and time flows slowly like the windmills by the shore. Originally an abandoned military camp, Xucuo Harbor has become the ideal stopping point for migratory birds due to its developed river systems and well-formed estuarine topography. Covering an area of 961 hectares and stretching 10.5 kilometers, it has been designated as an "Important Wetland (National Level)" by the Ministry of the Interior. Aside from bicycle paths and a wooden boardwalk through mangroves, there are hardly any man-made facilities. At first glance, it might seem ordinary, but it actually holds many "national treasures" with rich native ecology, offering different surprises every time you visit! Xucuo Harbor Wetland, recognized as an important habitat for wild birds by BirdLife International, sees a surge of birdwatchers from October to May each year, eagerly hoping to encounter Black-faced Spoonbills, Great Egrets, Black-tailed Gulls, and Little Terns among migratory birds. With intertidal zones, windbreaks, fish ponds, and rice fields, this wetland serves as a mid-way resting stop for migratory birds making their massive southern journey. Currently, over 200 bird species can be spotted here, accounting for about 41% of Taiwan's total of 560 species. Birds come here to forage and rest, creating a tranquil ecological landscape. A telescope, a single-lens reflex camera, a non-intrusive attitude, and a relaxed schedule are essential for birdwatching. Xucuo Harbor Wetland is not only one of the best habitats for wild birds in Taoyuan, but it also serves as a natural classroom to appreciate the beauty of intertidal ecology. You can discover over a hundred species of plants like Taiwan bulrush, Camphor trees, and Mikania, as well as amphibians such as the Taiwanese frog and the Black-spotted toad, along with unique species endemic to Taiwan.
