Kenting: More than 150,000 Chinese sparrowhawks were recorded flying over Kenting in southern Taiwan’s Pingtung County on Saturday, marking the highest single-day tally since an annual raptor migration survey in the area began 37 years ago. The Hengchun Peninsula, located at the southern tip of Pingtung County, serves as the final passage for migratory birds and raptors moving from East Asia to their wintering destinations in Southeast Asia and Indonesia.
According to Focus Taiwan, Kenting National Park has been conducting autumn raptor surveys since 1988, with the Raptor Research Group of Taiwan responsible for this year’s two-month count. Saturday’s total of 153,699 birds significantly surpassed the previous daily record of 71,608 set in 2020, a year that saw the overall migration reach 270,000, the highest on record.
On Sunday, an additional 56,696 birds were recorded, bringing this season’s total to 259,369. Bird expert Tsai Yi-jung noted that migration was stalled for four days last week due to poor weather, leading observers to anticipate a surge once conditions improved. Despite expectations, the magnitude of Saturday’s passage was surprising.
The average seasonal tally over the past decade has been around 200,000, but this year’s numbers could challenge the 2020 record, Tsai stated. While the main migration occurs in September, Typhoon Ragasa, predicted to impact the Hengchun Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday, may temporarily interrupt the movement. Tsai added that another wave of migration is expected once the storm passes later in the week.
