Eagle Observation at Bagua Mountain Introduction
The Baguashan Mountain Range on the eastern side of Changhua is a habitat for migratory birds during their winter migration each year. Among them, the most famous are the Grey-faced Buzzard and the Chinese Sparrowhawk, which stop over in Changhua during March and April around the Qingming Festival, with numbers reaching up to twenty to thirty thousand. The sight of these hawks swirling in groups is truly magnificent! This is the most important bird-watching event in Changhua County each year and also the best opportunity for learning about bird conservation and habitat protection.
Ideal Eagle Watching Time
Around the Tomb-Sweeping Day (Qingming Festival) on overcast days, when mountain rain is approaching, it causes them to land here. Especially when they fly at an altitude of 300 to 500 meters above the ground or gather in the sky and soar with the air currents, it is absolutely breathtaking.
Identification Tips for the Gray-faced Buzzard
Male: Approximately 42-45 cm in length, similar to the female, but with a reddish-brown feather color, and the coverts on the wings are a deeper red.
Female: About 49 cm in length, with a brown crown, white supercilium, a vertical line in the middle of the throat, an entirely brown chest, a belly with brown transverse stripes, and a brown back, with orange-yellow eyelids and feet (most raptors usually have yellow).
Juvenile: Entirely brown, with a very thick supercilium and longitudinal stripes on the chest and belly.
