Each winter starting in 2009, to better understand the conditions of the farmland and wetlands outside the park, park staff would patrol the water chestnut fields in Guantian and nearby areas. Through these activities, it was discovered that farmers were not just putting out poisoned bait, but were hanging carcasses as well. This was done to scare birds. In the past there were many Black Kites in Guantian. Birds were frightened to eat the grain with them hovering in the sky. But then the Black Kites disappeared. With them gone, tree sparrows and turtledoves had become bolder and would eat the rice. In response, farmers hung up the carcasses as a warning. After the patrols started though, the farmers were afraid that they would be reported for having the bird carcasses in their fields. They then started employing different tactics for killing the sparrows and turtledoves. This included reducing the concentration of pesticides in the bait they put out in the hopes that the birds would die in someone else’s field. They would also put the poison bait at the edge of their property to increase the chance that the birds would take the bait and die elsewhere. The problem was widespread. Even some farmers who were participating in a government-funded subsidy program which provided funds for farmers with jacanas on their property (the Pheasant-tailed Jacana Nest Subsidy Program) were still using poisoned bait.

Park staff looked into the matter and got some interesting results. They found that 80% of farmers did not know that jacanas were being poisoned, and more than 90% of the farmers didn’t know that jacanas had non-breeding plumage in winter. To inspire change, park staff realized that they needed to look at things from the perspective of the farmers.

Therefore, the PTJCP team decided they would patrol the farmlands and wetlands in Guantian and neighboring areas during the peak poison bait season from December to January each year. As they did the patrol, they would also make efforts to communicate directly with farmers, respect their opinions, and strive to gain mutual trust. The staff knew they needed to help the farmers understand the jacana’s wintering behavioral ecology while at the same time valuing their hard work and livelihood.

The staff also worked with companies, universities, local government offices, and civic groups to do more to promote the conservation of jacanas while at the same time respecting the farmer’s concerns. This included working to develop environmental education materials, increasing the value of local eco-friendly agricultural products, establishing community-friendly farming communication platforms, engaging with corporate social responsibility, encouraging eco-friendly and organic farming, and helping solve the problem of birds harming crops.

Farmers who received subsidies for having nesting pheasant-tailed jacana on their land had a good impression of the birds. They would then talk with other farmers about the need to protect them. Also, the staff that did the jacana surveys and patrols gradually gained the trust and acceptance of the farmers. With these positive developments, farmers began to adjust what they used for keeping birds out of their fields. These items included bird repellent balls, flags and fans. Park staff also helped to raise funds from companies and the public to purchase or make products that farmers could use in order to deter the birds instead of using poison bait.

At present, 95% of the water chestnut farms in Guantian have joined in on this initiative. Therefore, the number of pheasant-tailed jacana has exceeded 1,000 each year since 2016. After further observation and analysis based off of the patrols, it is now understood that eco-friendly farming is the only way for farmers to coexist with pheasant-tailed jacanas. Park staff therefore decided to take all they had learned and done over the years and promote organic and eco-friendly farming to the wider community starting in 2014.