Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Extent of this site: Connecting the Huaide Bridge, Hsizhou Mt., and the Houchihyan Bridge forms the northern border of the site. The southern border overlapped with the administrative district of the Dahsi Township is neighboring with the boundary Fuhsing Village. The eastern border is the boundary between Dahsi Township and Longtan Village; and the western border passes along the Huaide Bridge on the Nantsigou Creek.
When the reservoir is full, the water area is about 140 ha. Over 95% of this area is within the Shihmen Reservoir Designated Scenic Area. Below 250 m is the water source designated area managed by the Northern Division of the Water Resources Bureau. Above 250 m, most of the land is managed by the Taiwan Forestry Bureau and belongs to forest compartments and provincial-level forests. In addition to rented reforested lands, paddy fields, buildings and private forestlands, the greatest portion of the forests is the second-growth, mixed with some nurseries and orchards. Among the recreational lands are grasslands, and trees. Shihmen Reservoir is one of the best-known tourist destinations in the north. In addition to the six recreational areas within this area, there is also a privately run Asia Recreation Park. During vacations, the number of tourists is high.
IBA Al criterion species: Fairy Pitta
Year 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
No. of bird 2 7 1 ? 5 ?
IBA A2 criterion species: 8 endemic species are commonly seen here: Steere’s Liocichla, White-throated Hill Partridge, Formosan Yuhina, Formosan Yellow Tit, Formosan Blue Magpie, White-eared Sibia, Formosan Whistling Thrush, and Swinhoe’s Pheasant.
• 120 species in 40 families have been recorded, with a total of 30 protected species. Most species are associated with the second-growth forests and scrub areas, yet there are a few waterbirds. In the spring and fall, several members of the Muscicapidae and raptors will pass through this area. Among threatened and protected birds are the Maroon Oriole, Peregrine Falcon, and Swinhoe’s Pheasant.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
• There are great recreation and tourist pressures. Shihmen Reservoir is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the north, and at peak vacation times streams of tourists and cars come here for recreational purpose. Outside of holidays, each morning at dawn many of the surrounding residents climb the hills for their health.
• In recent years, it was discovered that the Fairy Pitta and the Formosan Blue Magpie breed here. During the breeding season, many birdwatchers and photographers descend on the area to search, chase, or wait for the birds. There are records of both the Fairy Pitta and the Formosan Blue Magpie failing in their nesting efforts: once when the parents were hunted, and once when the juveniles were snatched by an Asian Crested Goshawk. With both incidents, the processes were recorded by people nearby the nests observing and photographing the birds.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Legislation:
• In 1964, construction on Shihmen Reservoir was completed becoming Taiwan’s first multi-use reservoir. The watershed around the dam is protected.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Shihmen Reservoir (Taiwan, China). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/shihmen-reservoir-iba-taiwan-china on 23/12/2024.
