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Kinmen is surrounded by the sea. Kinmen and surrounding islets
are small in area and have a long history of human settlement. Thus,
there is little in the way of larger wildlife. However, the park's
proximity to mainland China makes it a way station for migratory
birds. So, there is a good diversity of bird species. From survey
data and a review of the literature, Kinmen National Park is home
to at least 8 species of mammals, 283 species of birds, 13 species
of reptiles, 5 species of amphibians, 45 species of butterflies,
32 species of mollusks and 6 species of crustaceans.
Inside the park, in addition to the Eurasian otter which is close
to extinction, there is the horseshoe crab, an ancient species often
called a ¨living fossil,〃 as well as the lancelet. Every fall and
winter, the park becomes a habitat for wintering migratory birds.
The large flocks of these migratory birds are truly a magnificent
sight.
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Ecology
Although Kinmen is small in area and has undergone development,
it is still rich in wildlife. Birds and butterflies are the most
diverse forms of wildlife in Kinmen. Among mammals, the most distinctive
species is the Eurasian otter. From wildlife censuses, the fauna
is mostly similar to that of the Fujian coast. From the most recent
estimates, there are 4 orders, 4 families, 6 genera and 8 species
of mammals, 54 families and 283 species of birds, 1 order, 5 families,
6 genera and 9 species of reptiles, 3 orders, 8 families, 13 genera
and 13 species of amphibians, 1 order, 7 families, 32 genera and
45 species of butterflies and 5 orders, 21 families, 28 genera and
32 species of mollusks.
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Mammals
The Eurasian otter is listed as an endangered species both domestically
and internationally. In the Kinmen area, traces of Eurasian otter
activity can be found near most water sources such as lakes, rivers,
fish farms and ponds. Other mammals are distributed widely among
grasslands, fields, shrub lands and unused farmland. These mostly
include shrews and other rodents. Among the records of Kinmen County
is mention of a catlike ¨fox,〃 but to date no such species has been
discovered.
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Birds
Birds are the richest and most characteristic
form of wildlife in Kinmen National Park. Currently, in the Kinmen
area there are 54 families and 283 species of birds. Kinmen is
an important way station for migratory birds in East Asia. So,
among the bird species, some 86% are migratory (wintering birds
36%, summering birds 2% and transitory birds 48%). Kinmen's bird
life is markedly different from that of Taiwan. Species never
recorded in Taiwan, such as the magpie robin, blue-tailed bee
eater, lesser pied kingfisher, black-collared starling, black-winged
hawk and Dicrurus hottentottus, etc. are common in Kinmen. And,
a number of rare birds of Taiwan are also common in Kinmen including
the hoopoe, collared crow, magpie, falcated teal, and green kingfisher,
etc. Among the 283 species of birds, 26 species are protected,
including the Diomedea albatrus, pelican, ibis, black-faced spoonbill,
Falco peregrinus Sundwall and Tringa guttifer. All of these can
be found on international endangered wildlife lists.
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Blue-tailed Bee-eater(Enter)
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Important habitats
Kinmen's habitats include grasslands, shrub lands, forests,
farms, lakes, marshes and coastal areas, etc. There are a
large number of birds, mostly water birds. The greatest number
of migratory bird species is found around Cih Lake(稯打) and Tai Lake(び打)
. Cormorants are the most representative birds in these
two areas. Cyonglin Reservoir and Jinsha Reservoir are home
to a large number of ducks and geese. At Jinsha Reservoir
the large flocks of birds are a magnificent sight.
On Lieyu (Little Kinmen), in addition to deciduous and
mixed forests that are habitats for resident birds, the most
important habitats are the lakes and wetlands. These include
Lingshui Lake(钞打), and Si Lake(﹁打), as well as Chingyuan Lake(睲环打),Ling Lake(蒂打), and Lien Lake(浆打). Near all of these lakes are many species
of birds including cormorants, ducks and black-faced spoonbills,
etc. From November to March, the shores of Yangming Lake,
Jinsha River,Rung Lake(篴打), Cih Lake,Lingshui Lake, and the
outlet of the Wuchiang River, etc., are habitats for wintering
birds.
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Migratory bird season
From September, the number of wintering birds gradually increases.
By December or January, all of the land and water migratory birds
have arrived, and the number of birds reaches its peak. Then, the
number of wintering birds gradually diminishes. From February, wintering
birds begin to fly north, and there is an increase in transitory
birds, with the number of birds reaching another peak in March or
April. Therefore, Kinmen is home to a large number of birds year
round.
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