Aogu Wetlands Introduction
Aogu Wetland was originally a farm owned by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation in Dongshi. However, due to land subsidence and the intrusion of seawater into the groundwater, the salinized farmland and fish ponds were abandoned. Over time, the area gradually returned to nature, attracting many birds to inhabit and winter there, creating a rich wetland ecology. In 2009, it was officially designated as an "Important Habitat for Wildlife in Chiayi County," becoming the largest reclaimed estuary in Taiwan. Due to its warm climate and diverse ecological resources, over 200 species of birds inhabit the area each year, garnering the attention of bird lovers both domestically and internationally. The "Aogu Wetland Forest Park," planned by National Sun Yat-sen University at the commission of the Forestry and Natural Conservation Agency, won the first prize in the planning and analysis category from the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2011, as it comprehensively considered global migratory routes for migratory birds in its landscape planning. Currently, the conservation bird species in the area include the Eastern White Stork, Black Stork, Black-faced Spoonbill, Great Egret, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Accipiter bicolor, Gray Heron, Osprey, Nordmann's Greenshank, Painted Snipe, Little Tern, and Red-tailed Shrike. In winter, the large numbers and diverse types of wintering birds provide a breathtaking spectacle, making it a place of deep ecological value and an ideal environment for birdwatching and education.
