“Orioles Singing Through the Valley”: Cheng Shiu University and Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society Join Forces to Protect a Rare Species

The Chinese idiom “Huang Ying Chu Gu” (黃鶯出谷), meaning "the oriole sings as it emerges from the valley," is often used to describe a voice that is melodious, crisp, and pleasant—much like the enchanting call of the Black-naped Oriole, commonly known in Chinese as huang ying (黃鸝).

This striking yellow songbird is known for its soft whistling calls, though it occasionally emits a raspy “ga-ga” sound. Adult orioles are about 23 to 28 cm in length, featuring bright yellow plumage, peach-pink beaks, and black wings and tails. As an arboreal species, they feed mainly on insects and fruit.

Due to their beautiful song, orioles have long been popular as cage birds, leading to intense hunting pressure. Combined with habitat destruction and urban development, their population once declined to just over 200 individuals in Taiwan. While conservation efforts in recent years have led to a modest recovery, the Black-naped Oriole remains listed as a Category II Protected Species, requiring urgent protection and recovery measures.

Located near Chengqing Lake in Niaosong District, Cheng Shiu University lies within one of the key urban habitats for the oriole in Kaohsiung City. Orioles are commonly observed singing and foraging across the campus and in nearby green areas such as Yuan Shan Hotel, Chengqing Lake Scenic Area, Niaosong Wetland Park, and the Fengshan Tropical Horticulture Research Center.

In recent years, CSU students have actively collaborated with the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society, particularly in oriole protection efforts across Fengshan and Zuoying districts. On May 8, the university welcomed Mr. Lin Kun-Hai, Secretary General of the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society, for an ecological lecture titled “Protecting the Oriole: Everyone Has a Role to Play.” The event attracted enthusiastic participation from students, international learners, and senior citizens from CSU’s Elder College program.

Since 2017, the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society has conducted voluntary monitoring of oriole populations in the Kaohsiung area. After four years of fieldwork, researchers confirmed that April to May marks the oriole’s primary breeding season. However, breeding success rates remained below 50%. In response, the society launched a formal oriole conservation initiative in 2021. By 2023, volunteers identified 45 active nests, with fledging success surpassing 50% for the first time. Notably, one juvenile oriole was tracked over a range of 5 kilometers—an encouraging sign of dispersal.

Conservation Initiatives Include:

• Improving survey methods to produce reliable data

• Conducting monthly monitoring to track population and breeding

• Using elevated platforms and cranes to study population expansion

• Promoting bird-friendly campus initiatives to foster ecological awareness

• Advocating for tree pruning guidelines to reduce human disturbance

We warmly invite you to join us in protecting the oriole—a symbol of nature’s beauty and fragility. Together, we can help safeguard this rare species for generations to come.

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