Aogu Wetlands Introduction
Aogu Wetland was originally a farm owned by Taiwan Sugar Corporation in Dongshi. However, due to land subsidence and seawater intrusion into the groundwater, the salinized farmland and fish ponds were abandoned, gradually restoring the natural environment and attracting many birds to nest and winter, forming an incredibly rich wetland ecosystem. In 2009, it was officially designated as an "Important Wildlife Habitat in Chiayi County." It is the largest tidal flat newly formed land in Taiwan, with a warm climate and diverse ecological resources, drawing the attention of bird lovers from both domestic and abroad, as over 200 species of birds nest here each year. 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 analysis and planning category of the 2011 American Society of Landscape Architects for its comprehensive consideration of global migratory bird routes in its landscape planning. Currently, the conserved bird species in the area include the Eastern White Stork, Black Stork, Black-faced Spoonbill, Great Egret, Sparrowhawk, Red-bellied Hawk, Grey Heron, Osprey, Nordmann's Greenshank, Painted Snipe, Little Tern, and the Rufous-backed Shrike. In winter, the number and diversity of wintering birds are astonishing, making it a birdwatching paradise and an environmental education venue with substantial ecological value.
