Aogu Wetland Introduction
The Aogu Wetland was originally a farm of Taiwan Sugar Corporation in Dongshi, but due to land subsidence and seawater intrusion into the groundwater, the salinized farmland and fish ponds were abandoned. However, it has gradually restored its natural state and attracted many bird species to inhabit and winter here, forming an incredibly rich wetland ecosystem. In 2009, it was officially designated as an “Important Wildlife Habitat of Chiayi County” and is the largest marine land reclamation area in Taiwan. Due to its warm climate and diverse ecological resources, over 200 species of birds inhabit here each year, drawing attention from bird enthusiasts both domestically and internationally. The "Aogu Wetland Forest Park," planned by National Sun Yat-sen University under the commission of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Administration, won the first prize in the professional category of analysis and planning at the 2011 "American Society of Landscape Architects" for its comprehensive consideration of global migratory bird routes in its landscape planning. Conserved bird species in the area include the Eastern Black Stork, Black Stork, Black-faced Spoonbill, Great Egret, Sparrowhawk, Red-bellied Hawk, Grey Heron, Osprey, Nordmann's Greenshank, Painted Stork, Little Tern, and Eurasian Magpie. In winter, the number and diversity of migratory birds are overwhelming, making it a paradise for birdwatching and an important environmental education site with profound ecological value.
