The Dasyueshan Bird Race is a 24-hour birdwatching competition held annually in Taiwan. Teams of 3-4 birders compete to identify the most bird species along the Dasyueshan Forest Road. In 2015, the winning team identified 166 species. Records from the race are used to monitor bird populations and manage forest habitats. The event also raises funds for conservation efforts in Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area, an Important Bird Area that is home to 26 of Taiwan's endemic bird species.

1. Dasyueshan
International Bird Race
The Dasyueshan Bird Race is a 24-hour Big Day
event organized annually by the Chinese Wild
Bird Federation. It is the longest-running birding
competition in Taiwan and has attracted birders
from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom,
France, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong
Kong, and PR China.
Teams of 3-4 compete to identify the most birds by
sight or sound along the length of the Dasyueshan
Forest Road. In 2015, 135 birders in 34 teams
recorded 166 bird species; led by Mu-chi Tsai,
record holder in Taiwan for world bird list, the Sibia
Team won with 110 species. Records generated
during the race are logged on eBird.org and
referred to for monitoring of bird populations and
management of forest habitats. The event also
raises funds for conservation.
Dasyueshan
National Forest Recreation Area
Dasyueshan (Great Snow
Mountain) is an Important Bird
Area and a key birdwatching
site in central Taiwan. The
former logging concession is now
managed by the Forestry Bureau.
The wide altitudinal range covers a
diverse variety of intact natural habitats
from lowland forests to temperate shrub, all
easily accessible via a trail network and 50-
km road. *Dasyueshan supports 26 of the
endemic birds of Taiwan, all except the
localized Styan's Bulbul. Protected from
poaching, mammals are plentiful in
this area including macaques,
muntjacs, serows, flying
squirrels, even bears.
International Bird Race
Flamecrest
(Hung-Chang Chen)
Mikado Pheasant
(Schumi Wu)
From tiny Flamecrests to majestic
pheasants, join us for the
chance to see all* of Taiwan's
endemic birds in 24 hours!
2016April 22-23,
Enjoy breathtaking scenery,
Engage in extraordinary birding,
Experience Taiwan’s hospitality.
Mikado Pheasant, or “emperor
of the mist,” is the most
sought-after endemic.
(Wang-Shih Chen)
Yellow Tit
(Po-Yen Chen)
Chinese Wild Bird Federation Tungshih Forest District Office
Forestry Bureau, C.O.A.
6th
annual

2. Birdwatching in Taiwan
Birders joining the bird race may consider
additional birding a few more days before/
after. April is the prime month, with
breeding birds singing and courting while
migratory birds of the East Asian-Australasian
Flyway put on a spectacular show.
Aside from 27 endemics unique to Taiwan, 60%
of the resident birds are endemic subspecies
and candidates for future splits. Birds highly
the Black-faced Spoonbill, Chinese Crested Tern,
Fairy Pitta and restricted-range species such as
Whistling Green-Pigeon, Ryukyu Scops-Owl.
Taiwan is also the easiest place to see the elusive
Malayan Night-Heron.
As a major travel hub, Taiwan can be combined
with a visit to another part of Asia. One to two
weeks is sufficient for a birding tour; even day
trips from any city can be rewarding.
Motivated? Contact the Chinese Wild Bird
Federation for more information and registration
details of the Dasyueshan Bird Race!
The stunning Swinhoe's Pheasant has
dazzled early explorers to modern-day
birders alike. (Schumi Wu)
The striking Taiwan Blue-Magpie was
recorded during the bird race for the first
time in 2015. (Schumi Wu)
desired in Taiwan include
globally threatened
species such as
CWBFChinese Wild Bird Federation
The CWBF is a BirdLife International Partner and the
largest organization for bird conservation in Taiwan,
with 21 local affiliates. Founded in 1988, the CWBF
promotes the appreciation, research, and conservation
of birds.
The CWBF manages local and international research
and conservation projects, including the Taiwan Bird
Record database, Bird Record Committee and New Year
Bird Count. The CWBF supports BirdLife's Important
Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) Programme and has
identified 56 IBAs in Taiwan. CWBF also works to
reduce seabird bycatch as a national NGO observer of
the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and
Petrels (ACAP).
Join the Dasyueshan Bird
Race
or contact us at:
Chinese Wild Bird Federation
Tel：+886-2-86631252
Fax：+886-2-29303595
Email：mail@bird.org.tw
Website：www.bird.org.tw
the
CWBF!
Support
Fairy Pitta
(Jia-Hong Chen)
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