Endangered Oriental White Storks Breed in Yunlin; Magistrate Zhang Pledges Zhuoshui River Ecological Corridor
Endangered Oriental White Storks successfully nested and raised chicks on a power tower in Yunlin. County Magistrate Zhang Li-shan committed to turning the area into an ecological corridor using AI technology for monitoring and bird identification.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 13:21
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 13:31 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 08:29 (18h 57m after Collected)
(CNA Yunlin, 27th) The endangered Oriental White Stork built a nest and successfully raised chicks on a high-voltage power tower along the Yunlin section of the Zhuoshui River at the end of last year. Yunlin County Magistrate Zhang Li-shan visited the site today and pledged that the county government will continue to integrate central and local resources to transform the Zhuoshui River from a dust-ridden waterway into an ecological corridor.
Magistrate Zhang Li-shan, Legislator Zhang Jia-jun, and others visited the site today. Guided by Wu Chong-han, supervisor of the Yunlin Bird Society, they observed the storks' habitat and breeding conditions and reviewed the results of dust control and environmental improvement in the Zhuoshui River.
Wu Chong-han stated that the storks' breeding in this region represents the lowest latitude public breeding record globally. Previously, records showed only 1 or 2 chicks, with some failing due to food scarcity. The success of raising three chicks this time proves that the local food supply is abundant. He recommended that relevant authorities use satellite tracking and banding to understand the storks' habits.
Zhang Li-shan said the success symbolizes that the local environment provides good habitat conditions and serves as the best proof of environmental improvement. The county government cooperated with the central government to implement the 'Zhuoshui River Dust Control and Improvement Action Plan,' significantly reducing dust days. The river mouth has gradually transitioned from exposed sandbars to a key habitat for animals and plants.
Currently, over 250 species of birds, including Black-faced Spoonbills and Oriental White Storks, have appeared in the Zhuoshui River mouth, indicating Yunlin has moved from dust management to a new stage of ecological restoration.
Tsai Jian-liang, assistant manager at Formosa Plastics, explained that Mai-Liao Power Corp. made unprecedented 'ecological yielding' adjustments, such as avoiding climbing the tower and suspending non-essential maintenance to prevent parent birds from abandoning nests or suffering electrocision, while using remote monitoring to ensure a win-win for power and ecology.
Environmental Protection Bureau Chief Zhang Qiao-wei noted that NT$9.8 million has been secured for a two-year project involving AI image recognition for bird identification, ecological documentaries, and community-led environmental education to document the transformation of the Zhuoshui River. (Editor: Wu Su-rou) 1150427
Magistrate Zhang Li-shan, Legislator Zhang Jia-jun, and others visited the site today. Guided by Wu Chong-han, supervisor of the Yunlin Bird Society, they observed the storks' habitat and breeding conditions and reviewed the results of dust control and environmental improvement in the Zhuoshui River.
Wu Chong-han stated that the storks' breeding in this region represents the lowest latitude public breeding record globally. Previously, records showed only 1 or 2 chicks, with some failing due to food scarcity. The success of raising three chicks this time proves that the local food supply is abundant. He recommended that relevant authorities use satellite tracking and banding to understand the storks' habits.
Zhang Li-shan said the success symbolizes that the local environment provides good habitat conditions and serves as the best proof of environmental improvement. The county government cooperated with the central government to implement the 'Zhuoshui River Dust Control and Improvement Action Plan,' significantly reducing dust days. The river mouth has gradually transitioned from exposed sandbars to a key habitat for animals and plants.
Currently, over 250 species of birds, including Black-faced Spoonbills and Oriental White Storks, have appeared in the Zhuoshui River mouth, indicating Yunlin has moved from dust management to a new stage of ecological restoration.
Tsai Jian-liang, assistant manager at Formosa Plastics, explained that Mai-Liao Power Corp. made unprecedented 'ecological yielding' adjustments, such as avoiding climbing the tower and suspending non-essential maintenance to prevent parent birds from abandoning nests or suffering electrocision, while using remote monitoring to ensure a win-win for power and ecology.
Environmental Protection Bureau Chief Zhang Qiao-wei noted that NT$9.8 million has been secured for a two-year project involving AI image recognition for bird identification, ecological documentaries, and community-led environmental education to document the transformation of the Zhuoshui River. (Editor: Wu Su-rou) 1150427