Shihmen Reservoir (14275)
Taiwan, China, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Shihmen Reservoir
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.8167, Longitude: 121.2500
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 573
Area of KBA (km2): 5.55702
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: 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.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: 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.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 90 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: • 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.
Additional information
References: • Wild Bird Society of Taipei. 1985. Report on investigations of the avian resources of the scenic areas in northern Taiwan. Wild Bird Society of Taipei. • Chang, Y. F. 1990. Report on avian ecology at the Shihmen Reservoir at Taoyuan County. Wild Birds (7): 87-92. WBFT. • Liu, J. C. 1995. Research investigation of the ecological environment of the Shihmen Reservoir. Chuanhsi: 213-230. • Wild Bird Society of Taoyuan. 1998. Beauty of the Colors and Sounds Interpretive Pamphlet to the Avian Ecology of Taoyuan County’s Mountain Areas. Wild Bird Society of Taoyuan. Compilers Chien-hua Ouyang, Chin-cheng Liu