Black-necked Grebe, 3/25/2012

On late March 2012, this Black-necked Grebe appeared near the estuary of Huangxi creek in Jinshan District, New Taipei City. It immediately drew the attention of huge birdwatching crowds. Everybody packed up their best camera and long-range lenses and rushed to the site to photograph this unusual bird. In addition to its rarity, this bird was wearing a breeding plumage with beautiful golden feathers behind its eye. Black-necked Grebe is categorized as disoriented bird in Taiwan, which means it only comes to Taiwan accidentally via drift migration and it doesn't appear in Taiwan under normal circumstance. It is so rare that every one would like to take a picture of it.

Unfortunately this Black-necked Grebe died next day after accidentally eating two rubber bands. The tragedy deeply impacted the birdwatching society and forced the society to face the problem of current environmental polutions. Tens of people from Jinshan District, including students from Dharma Drum Buddhist College and some enthusiasts from the birdwatching society, have formed a group volunteering to clean up Huangxi creek and the beach nearby on every Saturday before the 26th of each month. Thanks to them.












video recorded on 3/25/2012 at Jinshan District

Chinese name:	黑頸鸊鷉
English name:	Black-necked Grebe
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Emberiza rustica
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Emberizidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Disoriented bird in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Rare in Taiwan
Foods:	seeds and grains
Habitat:	Grasslands, bushes
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Appear alone
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 15 cm long. Plumage is similar to Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Eyebrow stripe is white with a little bit of light yellow. There is a wide white stripe on the face extending from the lower edge of bill to the side of the neck, looking like the Last Quarter of moon. Belly is white. Upper breast and the side body under the wings are white with vertical brown stripes.
Breeding places:	Northern Europe, Russia, Mongolia, China, Korean Peninsula, Japan, North America.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in Southern Europe, Middle East, mainland China, Korean Peninsula, Japan and Taiwan
Time photographed:	3/16/2012
Location found:	Jinshan District, New Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes:	Since they appear almost every year in Taiwan, especially in Ilan County, they might become winter migratory bird in the future.