Portuguese sailors in the 16th Century called the island of Taiwan 'Ilha Formosa', Beautiful Island.

And rightly so--the island's breathtaking mountains and forests still awe visitors today. A paradise for environmentalists and bird watchers, Taiwan has a bird list that numbers 460 species. This includes 15 which are found nowhere else in the world, a delight missed by the average tourist or business traveller passing through.

Blue formosan magpie (photo:www.phy.ntnu.edu)

The event is on display from September 1-14, 2005, at the Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street, in downtown Vancouver.

The exhibition aims, as they put it, "to raise international awareness of environmental protection and wildlife conservation."

The public will be treated to a feast of photo exhibits, films, live birds by O.W.L., and musical and slide presentations on Taiwan and Canada's wild birds. Visitors can also avail themselves to the many door prizes, including free tickets to Taiwan by EVA air and Southeast Asia by China Airlines.