Wildlife Refuge, Major Wildlife Habitats

Taichung City Government

This wetland extends north to Dajia Estuary, east to the coastal embankments along the section of the West Coast Expressway in Qingshui District, through Fanzailiao Levee, Gaomei Levee No. 1 and No. 2, down to the north levee, and south to the average low tide line to the west, and the north levee of Taichung Harbor.

Gaomei wetland has 3-km wide intertidal zone. The surrounding terrain is flat. The wetland stretches as far south as the north levee of Taichung Harbor. Nourished by Dajia River, it supplies ample nutrients and foods and is thus a habitat for an abundance of creatures.

This wetland has a diverse topography and a high concentration of nutrients, making it a fertile breeding ground for many benthic animals. In addition, the estuary provides a complete food chain. The wetland is therefore a major attraction for migratory shorebirds, where 127 species of birds from 45 families have been recorded. Among them are the black-faced spoonbill and Saunders’s gull, which have been rated “Endangered” and “Vulnerable, respectively.” Gaomei Wetland has also been identified by the Chinese Wild Bird Federation as an A1 habitat, a site with regular or potential presence of globally threatened or endangered species of birds.

Black-faced Spoonbills, Spotted Greenshank, Hygrophila pogonocalyx, Hayata, Bolboschoenus planiculmis

Chinese Egret, Osprey, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Common Kestrel, Little Tern, Black-nape Tern, Saunders' Gull, Painted Snipe

Eastern Collared Pratincole, Brown Shrike

In November 1996, the authority found that someone put dirt and stones in the wetland, burying a portion of the rare species Bolboschoenus planiculmis. Many visitors have entered the refuge directly, stepped on Bolboschoenus planiculmis, and destroyed its habitat. In addition, the establishment of wind mill machinery by Tai-power has made it difficult for migratory birds moving between habitats for foraging and resting.

Forest Bureau, Council of Agriculture; Agriculture Department, Taichung City Government; ROC Wild Bird Association