It was actually not until 1973 that Maoyu caught the attention of biological protectionists both in the R.O.C. and overseas when a doctor from the American Naval Hospital went to Maoyu to conduct research on chigger, the larva of a parasitic mite that causes severe itching. During the research it was discovered that the parasitic mite bred on the breeding grounds of the Philippine noddy.
而貓嶼真正引起國內外生態保育專家的重視，還是在民國六十二年，一位美國海軍醫院的醫生到貓嶼做恙蟲病的研究時，發現玄燕鷗在島上棲息、繁殖。