The glossy ibis, a rare vagrant bird, made its first appearance in Taipei City June 8 at Guandu Nature Park, according to the local government’s Animal Protection Office.
“This was the maiden sighting of the heron-like wading bird in northern Taiwan, an APO official said. “Official records show that glossy ibises were only spotted six times previously in Taiwan, all in the southern part of the country.”
Vagrant birds are known to wander far from their usual habitats and migratory routes. A wading bird, glossy ibises are usually found near lakes and rivers, less commonly in coastal locations such as the Tamsui River estuary in Guandu.
“The glossy ibis is the smallest ibis species and the straggler, with its dark green and purple plumage and petite silhouette, stood out among the African saint ibises frequenting the northern Taiwan wetland,” the official said.
It is believed that the inaugural visit of the bird to Guandu and its diverse ecosystem illustrates the effectiveness of local government ecological preservation efforts over the years.
