Shoushan Nature Park A Trip with Excitement and Natural Fun / 充滿驚奇與野趣的壽山自然公園之旅
◎Text by Kuan-Chun Judy Chen ◎Photos by Chung-Hui Pao, Kun-Hai Lin & Wun-Hua Li
Guide: Kun-Hai Lin, Chairman of the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society
If you would like to get close to nature, Shoushan is the best place to go. Shoushan, a coral mountain, is located in southwestern Kaohsiung next to Sizihwan Bay. With the largest area of green land in Kaohsiung, Shoushan is Kaohsiung citizens' favorite natural spot. Shoushan not only has tourist spots like the Martyrs' Shrine and the zoo, it also possesses a rich variety of trees and creatures, which attract many nature observation lovers. For example, members from the Kaohsiung Wild Bird Society have been observing birds here for a long time and have been holding guided tours regularly in the hopes of introducing this biological treasure to the public.
Chairman Lin says that it's very easy to spot cute animals on Shoushan, such as the well-known Formosa Macaque and various birds from the Timaliidae family, especially in the early morning. The Gray-cheeked Fulvetta, which has a white circle around the eyes, or the streak-breasted Scimitar babbler with white eyebrows, are very lively and love to play with tourists. In addition, you might be able to see the Taiwan Hwa-mei, which has weathered-leaf colored feathers and a very nice voice. If you hear a rustle, it might be the Taiwan Hwa-mei foraging in the grass. Don't forget to keep an eye on the ground while walking down the wooden footway; you may see the green Emerald Dove taking a walk with you!
Plants here on Shoushan are incredible too. Every year around April, when the rain season starts, the notorious Taiwan Titan Arum (Amorphophallus hirtus R. Br.) start to flower and the unique aroma is hard to miss. Paper Mulberry, a dioecious plant, flowers in April and July. Its 
oblong male flowers pollinate the globular female flowers and the flowers mature into a fruit. You can also see the translucent fruit of the Dendrocnide along the way.
Chairman Lin recommends visitors take the north entrance behind the Longquan Temple. Shortly after the entrance, the Makatao historical site Creek Shell Mound will be in view. If you continue along the footway, you can take a rest and enjoy the sky at the silt filtration plant, which was built for mining. You might also be able to see Crested Serpent Eagles and Crested Goshawks spiraling in the sky.
Passing the silt filtration plant is a quiet path surrounded by Arenga. On the wooden bridge, you will see many little crabs crawling on the riverbed. Taking the left turn of the fork leads to the Rest Set where you can enjoy the ocean view and tea provided by local climbers (bring your own cup). Animals such as monkeys, squirrels and Gray-cheeked Fulvettas will be playing around you or even with you.
If you decide to go straight at the fork, the Scenery Deck will come to sight first, where you can enjoy the view of Lotus Pond, Banping Mt. and Turtle Mt. Keep walking and you will see a big fig tree surrounded by many arums. Shiaupingding is another tourists' favorite. Many monkeys are jumping around the big and beautiful soap nut tree. However, for their protection, please do not feed them. Passing Monkey Rock from Shiaupinding, the road will form a circle and take you back to the Rest Set.
Chairman Lin reminds us that a small section of Shoushan is still military-restricted and visitors can't trespass. Therefore, it would be safer to follow the wooden footway to prevent getting lost or injured. Keep that in mind and a wonderful nature tour awaits you!
嚮導：高雄鳥會總幹事林崑海
◎文／林昀熹 ◎攝影／李文化．林崑海．鮑忠暉
想要擁有最貼近自然的感受，高雄的壽山肯定是最佳選擇！壽山位於高雄的西南方，瀕臨西子灣，由隆起珊瑚礁岩所構成，是高雄佔地最大的綠地，也是高雄人最喜歡的綠色空間。
壽山上除了忠烈祠、動物園等景點，豐富的林相與生物種類更吸引了許多熱愛生態觀察的人士。像是高雄鳥會的愛鳥人士不但長期觀察壽山中的鳥類，也常不定期舉辦生態導覽活動，帶領社會大眾深入探訪這座基因寶庫。
高雄鳥會總幹事林崑海表示，壽山裡的生物相當多，除了大家所熟知的台灣獼猴，還有多種以畫眉科為主的鳥類，尤其清晨時段最容易看見。像是眼周有一圈白線的繡眼畫眉，以及擁有白眉的小彎嘴畫眉，都相當活潑、不怕人。此外，台灣特有種的台灣畫眉，羽毛如枯枝落葉般黯淡，聲音卻很好聽，當四周一片寂靜的時候，聽到地面的窸窣聲，可能就是台灣畫眉正在落葉下頭找東西吃！而走在木棧道上時，注意腳下，也許會發現綠色、聲音低沉的翠翼鳩，跟著你一起散步喔！
壽山上的植物也很有看頭，四月下旬雨季開始的時候，著名的台灣魔芋和密毛魔芋就會開花，湊近一點就能聞到那特殊的「臭味」；雌雄異株的構樹則在四月與七月開花，當雄株細長的花與雌株綠球狀的花授粉之後，就會結出紅色的果實。而沿途可欣賞半透明果托的咬人狗等壽山上常見的特色植物植物。
林崑海總幹事建議，遊壽山可以從龍泉寺後的北登山口進入，走上去不久就可看到馬卡道族的遺址「小西貝塚」，再往前去，因採礦而建的「攔砂壩」，是山林間難得可看到天空的地方，空中不時有大冠鷲、鳳頭蒼鷹盤旋，也可同時看到雌雄兩種構樹。
過了攔砂壩往裡走，兩排茂密的山棕使得景觀相當幽靜；在接下來的木橋上，雨後可以看到許多小螃蟹穿梭溪流間；前面的叉路上，往左可到「雅座」，在這裡看海，還可以享用山友提供的茶水（建議自備茶杯），許多猴子、松鼠、繡眼畫眉等小動物穿梭其間，甚至與人互動，相當有趣。
如在叉路採直行路線，則會先到達「觀景平台」，擁攬蓮池潭、半屏山、龜山景緻；往前走有株大榕樹，附近很多魔芋生長；「小坪頂」是另一個著名的休息點，有株大又美的無患子樹，這裡獼猴眾多，不過為了保護他們，還是不要餵食的好。從「小坪頂」經過擁有峭壁美景的猴岩，就會接到「雅座」，形成一個迴圈。
林總幹事叮嚀，壽山上有小部分區域仍屬軍事管制區無法穿越，因此一般遊客最好還是沿著木棧道走，不要自行探訪小路或洞穴，以免迷路或受傷，才能擁有最愉快的壽山自然之旅。