• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description
Extent of the IBA: the northern and eastern borders are Provincial Highway 14 (Changnan Road north to Changhua City, then east to Fenyuan Village); the southern border is the boundary between Huatan and Datsun Village, along Changhua County Road 74 to its intersection with Provincial Highway 14; and the western border is County Road 137 (from Changhua City along Shanjiao Road to Huatan Village). The Bagua Mt. plateau is made of red clay; both the eastern and western slopes are incised with erosion gullies, but the terrain of this area, in general, is smooth. The Bagua Mt. forest compartment belongs to low-elevation second-growth forest. Historical records of the Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle passing through Bagua Mt. are found in Taiwan General History by Heng Lien: each year on Tomb-sweeping Day (usually in early April) there are flocks of raptors moving from the south to the north. The people of Changhua call them the “southern route raptors”. But when conservation concepts had been not yet been promoted, there was the terrible expression, “9,000 southern route raptors killed out of 10,000”. Fortunately after 5-year promotion by Wild Bird Society of Changhua, raptor watching at Bagua Mt. has become a favored activity of the people of Changhua City, and the capturing of raptors has almost disappeared. The Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle was even selected by the people of Changhua County to be their county bird.

Key biodiversity
IBA A4iv criterion species: On the spring passage of Grey-faced buzzard Eagles (GBE) through Bagua Mt. about 20,000 birds annually have been recorded during 1991-2000. Year 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 No. of SG 20737 ND ND 18733 16189 18900 19283 19369 15124 20212 13995 Note: ND refers to No Data. • A total of 105 species have been recorded at this site. • In addition to the Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle, there are 12 protected species recorded: Crested Serpent Eagle, Asian Crested Goshawk, Besra Sparrow Hawk, Grey Frog Hawk, Osprey, Emerald Dove, Collared Scops Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Melodious Laughing Thrush, Brown Shrike and Fairy Pitta.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: North Section of Bagua Mountain. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 01/04/2023.