Taipei: Botulism poisoning and collisions are the leading threats to migratory birds in Taiwan, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said Wednesday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the MOA reported that 335 migratory birds across 58 species were rescued between 2013 and 2024. Each year, during September and October, a significant number of migratory birds arrive in Taiwan for wintering or as a stopover. However, these birds face numerous dangers during their stay.
The Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute (TBRI) highlighted that among the 107 cases of botulism, 105 involved black-faced spoonbills. Out of these, 80 birds were successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. The disease, which causes muscle weakness and progressive paralysis, can often be fatal to birds.
The TBRI credited the high recovery rate to the “costly, limited” antitoxin serum. This serum is prioritized for the critically endangered black-faced spoonbill and is not yet widely available for other species. Botulism outbreaks are more prevalent when there are mass fish die-offs in wetlands or when rotting vegetation combines with reduced rainfall.
The institute warned that if botulism cases are not addressed promptly, the accumulation of bird carcasses can become a new source of toxins, leading to a vicious cycle of outbreaks.
In addition to botulism, the institute recorded 85 cases of bird collisions. Of these, 45 involved vehicles and 21 were due to building glass, with release rates of 24.4 percent and 52.4 percent, respectively. Vehicle strikes have long been a major cause of injury to wildlife, with only 22 percent of all animals hit by cars recovering.
The TBRI urged the public to report any suspected injured migratory birds to local authorities or wildlife rescue units to ensure they are handled safely by professionals. Drivers are also advised to reduce speed in areas frequented by migratory birds and to provide appropriate assistance and notify relevant authorities if a collision occurs.
