Ao Gu Wetlands Introduction
Aogu Wetland was originally a farm of Taiwan Sugar Corporation in Dongshi. However, due to land subsidence and seawater intruding into the groundwater, the salinized farmland and fish ponds were abandoned, but gradually returned to nature, attracting many birds to inhabit and winter here, forming an extremely rich wetland ecology. In 2009, it was officially designated as "Chiayi County Aogu Important Wildlife Habitat," making it the largest coastal reclaimed land in Taiwan. Due to its warm climate and diverse ecological resources, over 200 bird species inhabit here each year, attracting the attention of bird lovers both domestically and internationally. The "Aogu Wetland Forest Park," planned by National Sun Yat-sen University on commission from the Forestry Bureau and the Council of Agriculture, won the first prize in the analysis and planning category from the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2011, as it comprehensively considered global migratory routes of migratory birds in its landscape planning. Currently, the protected bird species in the area include the Eastern White Stork, Black Stork, Black-faced Spoonbill, Great Egret, Sparrowhawk, Crested Serpent Eagle, Grey Heron, Osprey, Nordmann's Greenshank, Greater Sand Plover, Little Tern, and Red-backed Shrike. In winter, the number and diversity of wintering birds are overwhelming, making it a birdwatching paradise and environmental education site with profound ecological value.
