世界之美就在台灣 (國家公園季刊 National Park )

作者/劉克襄

去年夏天，一位熟識的美國漢學家，再次受邀到台灣教書。早些年，他來時，我們旅行的地點，多半集中在溼地和低海拔森林。
這回，我想邀他上合歡山，一了未曾接觸台灣高山鳥類的宿願。

豈知，他竟反問我，「能不能去看黑面琵鷺？」那時他正在翻譯我的一篇文章，碰巧跟此鳥有關係。

我聽到後，面有難色。他有些不解，既然有空上高山，為何換個更近都會的地點，卻遲疑了。

我急忙解釋，「牠們是候鳥，早就離開了。現在去曾文溪口，可能會白跑。」

沒想到，他又回答，「我當然知道黑面琵鷺走了，但是能夠到現場也可以呀。」

他這麼堅持，我還能說什麼。還好，半途想到，黑面琵鷺保育中心已經設立，或許帶他到那兒觀賞，也是不錯的選擇。

於是，在前往河口的路途上，我們按照安排的計劃，先在保育中心參觀。黑面琵鷺缺席的季節，那兒很冷清。偌大的空間，
只有一位服務員。因為沒有遊客，為了節約能源，服務員減弱了多數閱覽室的燈光。我們出現後，他才開啟......

An American sinologist I know came to Taiwan to teach again last summer.  Years ago, we used to visit wet lands and low-elevation forests.  This time I invited him to Hehuan Mountain to know the various high mountain birds.

Surprisingly, he asked me “Can we go see black-faced spoonbills?” He was translating my article on the bird.

I hesitated.  He was confused: why I would not choose a mountain closer to the city since I was visiting one anyway.

I explained “These migrants have left for Zengwun River mouth now.”

Again, he replied “Of course I know they are not there any more but it would be nice just to visit the site!”

So, I gave in.  Fortunately, it occurred to me that the Black-Faced Spoonbill Conservation Center was established, which would be a good place to visit.

On the way to the river mouth, we visited the conservation center. Without black-faced spoonbills, the place was empty with only one service representative.  Without visitors and to save energy, lights were dimmed and only turned on when we showed up.......

─詳細精采內容請見2009年3月號國家公園季刊─