Black kite population hits new highBy Esme Yeh / Staff reporterThe number of black kites nationwide hit a record high of 1,033 last year, showing that eco-friendly construction and farming methods have helped with their conservation, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency said on Thursday. Black kites are pictured in an undated photograph. The size of the black kite population is closely related to habitat integrity and healthy food sources, the agency said, adding that the species once faced survival crisis due to habitat loss, and the use of pesticides and poisons. Raptors such as black kites are key indicators of environmental health and biodiversity, the agency said. The agency has been cooperating with the lab on monitoring black kite populations via satellite tracking technology and promoting relevant education since 2013, it said.

Source: Taipei Times January 30, 2026 17:13 UTC