Rare Mountain Hawk-Eagle's Secret Life Revealed in New Documentary

The Mountain Hawk-Eagle, an endangered species in Taiwan, is difficult for the public to observe due to its elusive nature and short flight times. To gain a deeper understanding of this raptor, which inhabits mid-to-high altitude forests and plays a crucial role as an umbrella species for its ecosystem, the Yushan National Park Headquarters commissioned research. Since 2019, Professor Sun Yuan-hsun's team from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology has been conducting field tracking and release studies. This research has established foundational data on the hawk-eagle's activity patterns, habitat utilization, and breeding behaviors. The findings have led to the publication of the book "Cloud Eagle - Mountain Hawk-Eagle" and the production of a documentary directed by Liang Chieh-te.

With support from the Wistron Foundation, Sun Yuan-hsun and Liang Chieh-te's team also pioneered the world's first live stream of a Mountain Hawk-Eagle breeding nest. This initiative attracted over 150,000 viewers from 19 countries, successfully using visual media and digital technology to bring the public closer to wildlife. In conjunction with the research and filming efforts, the Yushan National Park Headquarters is also hosting a special exhibition at its Shuili Township headquarters until December 19th.

The documentary "Fly! Mountain Hawk-Eagle," the result of years of filming by Liang Chieh-te in remote mountain areas and indigenous villages, meticulously portrays the hawk-eagle's journey from courtship, chick-rearing, and growth to fledging, as well as the challenges of field research and filming. The film premieres on May 15th. A private screening was held last night at the Nantou Theater, inviting the public to learn about Taiwan's precious raptors.