Aogu Wetlands Introduction
Aogu Wetland was originally a farm owned by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation in Dongshi. However, due to land subsidence and seawater intrusion into underground water layers, the salinized farmland and fish ponds were abandoned, gradually restoring nature and attracting many bird species to inhabit and winter here, forming an extremely rich wetland ecosystem. In 2009, it was officially designated as an "Important Wildlife Habitat of Chiayi County" and is the largest newly developed coastal land in Taiwan. Due to its warm climate and diverse ecological resources, over 200 species of birds inhabit the area each year, garnering attention from bird enthusiasts domestically and internationally. The "Aogu Wetland Forest Park," planned by National Sun Yat-sen University under the commission of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Bureau, won the first prize in the analysis and planning category of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2011 for its landscape planning that considered global migratory routes of migratory birds. Currently, the conservation birds in the area include the Eastern Black Stork, Black Stork, Black-faced Spoonbill, Great Egret, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Crested Honey Buzzard, Grey Heron, Osprey, Nordmann's Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Tern, and the Red-tailed Shrike. In winter, the large number and diverse species of wintering birds create a breathtaking spectacle, making it a place of significant ecological value for bird watching and environmental education.
