Grey-Faced Buzzard Migration

Here I am with Mr. Simon Liao (front left) and his father. His father is the official counter for this station. Simon Liao started the nationwide count in 1993 and still directs the nationwide count. He is also president of the Taiwan Wild Bird Federation. More than 50,000 people also migrate to Changhua to see the Grey-Faced Buzzard Migration. The Wild Bird Society provides free bus service from the train station and around town to the officeal viewing site.

Below are photos of some the Grey-Faced Buzzards (really Eagles) that passed over Changhua County Sunday morning. These are mostly male eagles coming from the Philippians on their way to Hokkaido, Japan, Siberia, Korea and parts of mainland China. The males go first, followed by the females a week or two later and then the juveniles. The males set up their territories and prep for the arrival of the females so that they can get married. The day before the count was at more than 3000 birds. The peak is Wednesday. I saw a couple of hundred in just a couple of hours.

While observing these eagles, we saw a Crested Serpent Eagle too - it's a big bird.