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濫捕嚴重-黃胸鵐(禾花雀)十年升三級至瀕危級別

濫捕嚴重-黃胸鵐(禾花雀)十年升三級至瀕危級別

濫捕嚴重 
黃胸鵐(禾花雀)十年升三級至瀕危級別


香港觀鳥會新聞稿

2013年11月26日



國際自然保護聯盟(International Union for Conservation of Nature)在香港時間今天早上8時正式公佈「紅皮書」的最新修訂,其中為內地及香港人非常熟悉的「禾花雀」(黃胸鵐),由「易危」(Vulnerable)級別調升至「瀕危」(Endangered)級別,十年內連升三級,與黑臉琵鷺並列,但黑臉琵鷺在各國政府及民間組織的全力保護下,情況已逐步改善,反而黃胸鵐卻一直被視為滋補味美的珍饈「野味」,非法及大量捕捉的情況變本加厲,令黃胸鵐成為「瀕危」鳥類中的最新苦主。

香港觀鳥會研究經理余日東指出,黃胸鵐在歐亞大陸的北部繁殖,西至芬蘭、白俄羅斯及烏克蘭,中至哈薩克,中國及蒙古,東至俄羅斯、韓國及日本北部。每逢秋季牠們會集體遷徙,在長江流域一帶短暫停留,便會開始前往亞洲南部及東南亞地區越冬。黃胸鵐曾經是西伯利亞一帶其中一種數量眾多及分佈廣泛的繁殖候鳥,但過去二十年,牠們在大部分的繁殖地均被發現數量劇減,在芬蘭,最近3年更沒有任何繁殖紀錄,歐陸俄羅斯地區報告推算於2000-2010年間的黃胸鵐數量亦下跌最少達70%。此外,在過去二十年,所有越冬地亦同時顯示牠們的數量在急劇減少中。

在香港,根據1937-1980年文獻紀錄,黃胸鵐一直都屬常見鳥種。1959年還有上3,000隻的紀錄,到90年代,還有數百隻的紀錄,但踏入千禧年代,最高紀錄只有25隻。

黃胸鵐體型細小,喜歡成群在開闊田野活動,以稻米和其他穀類種子為主要糧食,故又名禾花雀。由於數量在過去13年急劇減少,2004年被列為「近危」級別,2008年被列為「易危」級別,2013年更列為「瀕危」級別,境況堪虞。假如我們仍沒有辦法阻止,此物種將會在可見的未來滅絕。

香港觀鳥會助理經理(中國項目)傅詠芹解釋:「由於中國人進食野味的情況一直未有改善,令內地非法及合法大量捕捉黃胸鵐的情況持續惡化,傳媒亦經常報導執法人員檢獲黃胸鵐的事件。黃胸鵐在坊間經常被渲染為肉嫰骨軟,廣東省更盛傳黃胸鵐有補腎壯陽功效,甚至稱為「天上人蔘」,但事實上並無科學根據」。傅詠芹續指:「早期,廣東從化、三水、四會、清遠等地方都是捕捉黃胸鵐的集中地,1992年,佛山巿三水區還舉辦過「禾花雀美食節」,直至1997年廣東省林業廳下令停辦為止。近年,由於黃胸鵐數量大減,加上中國急速發展,水稻田面積大量減少,捕獵人士北上攔截捕殺,再運往廣東巿場,在中國東面沿海地區均有捕捉黃胸鵐的情況。」

除了濫捕問題,黃胸鵐在中國的繁殖、遷徙及越冬棲息地被破壞、過度使用農藥等都是導致黃胸鵐劇減的因素,加上黃胸鵐的遷徙群體很大,一旦在棲息地被大量捕捉,就會對整個種群數量有嚴重影響。

國際鳥盟亞洲部主任研究員陳承彥表示:「要保護黃胸鵐,首先要嚴禁捕獵和販賣,並加強執法與舉報途徑,另外,進行研究監測種群和宣傳教育亦十分重要。」 

香港雖然農業式微,但由於政府及民間在鳥類保育工作上都取得一定成果,加上所有野鳥均受法例保護,令黃胸鵐的生存得以延續。香港觀鳥會助理經理(項目)楊莉琪指出:「香港觀鳥會與長春社在八年前開始合作在塱原進行一項濕地管理計劃,其中最成功的項目之一是在塱原恢復種植水稻,陸續吸引黃胸鵐和其他鵐類雀鳥到訪,黃胸鵐的數量開始回升,至2012年冬天錄得最高47隻,其他鵐的數量也有增加,雖然比過去高峰期仍有很大距離,但塱原成為黃胸鵐及其他鵐的綠洲已反映了香港在鳥類保育上仍然可以扮演關鍵的角色。香港觀鳥會亦希望透過此項管理措施為這種瀕危雀鳥提供穩定又安全的停歇和越冬地,亦透過各項教育活動及售賣塱原生態米,喚醒公眾對禾花雀和其他稻田生態的關注。」

新聞稿PDF版
黃胸鵐十年跳升至瀕危.pdf (1010.81 KB)

黃胸鵐的全球分佈 © IUCN


黃胸鵐的香港分佈


(左至右:香港觀鳥會研究經理余日東、助理經理(項目)楊莉琪、助理經理(中國項目)傅詠芹)

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Yellow-breasted Bunting uplisted to “Endangered”
in ten years due to overhunting

HKBWS Press Release

26 November 2013


The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced updates to the Red List at 8:00a.m. this morning (Hong Kong time). Among the uplisted species, Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola) which is widely known as “Rice Flower Bird” in Mainland China and Hong Kong is moved up by three notches in a decade from “Near Threatened” to “Endangered”, the same status as the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor). Fortunately, with the conservation efforts from different governments and local organizations, the plight of Black-faced Spoonbill has shown gradual improvement. Yellow-breasted Bunting, however, is still under threat of mass poaching as it has all along been seen as nourishing and delicious delicacy, making it the latest victim among “Endangered” species.

Mr. Yu Yat Tung, Research Manager of HKBWS, said Yellow-breasted Bunting breeds across the northern Palaearctic from Finland, Belarus and Ukraine in the west, through Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia, to far eastern Russia, Korea and northern Japan. In autumn, they stop over in large numbers in the Yangtze Valley, China, before continuing on to their wintering quarters in South and Southeast Asia. They were formerly one of the most abundant breeding migratory bird species across vast swathes of Siberia, but a severe decline in their numbers has been noted in most breeding areas in the past twenty years. In fact, no breeding record was found in Finland in the last three years. The number is estimated to have decreased sharply by at least 70% in European Russia between 2000 and 2010. Numbers at wintering sites throughout its range have shown rapid decline over the last two decades as well.

According to the literature published in 1937-1980, Yellow-breasted Bunting was a common bird species in Hong Kong. In 1959, 3,000 individuals were recorded but in the 1990s, the number plunged to a few hundreds with the highest record being only 25 individuals after the year 2000.

Yellow-breasted Bunting is a small bird species that favours open fields and often occurs in groups. They mainly feed on rice and other grains, hence the name  “Rice Flower Bird”. As their numbers have plummeted in the past 13 years, they used to be listed as “Near Threatened” in 2004, then “Vulnerable” in 2008, and further uplisted to “Endangered” in 2013, an indication of the dismal situation they are facing. If we cannot revert this trend, they may become extinct in the foreseeable future.

Ms. Fu Wing Kan, Vivian, Assistant Manager (China Programme) of HKBWS, said, “As delicacy consumption has been common in China, illegal and legal mass hunting of Yellow-breasted Bunting continues to rise. Seizing of Yellow-breasted Bunting by law enforcement officers is often covered by the media. The birds are noted for their tender meat and bones. There is even rumour in the Guangdong Province that Yellow-breasted Bunting can strengthen kidney function and nourish sexual vitality, thus dubbed as ‘flying ginseng’. However, this is scientifically unproven.” Ms. Fu continued, “In early years, Conghua, Sanshui, Sihui, and Qingyuan of Guangdong were common places where Yellow-breasted Buntings are hunted. Worse still, Sanshui area of Foshan had held a ‘Rice Flower Bird Food Festival’ in 1992 and this was only stopped in 1997 by the Guangdong Forestry. In recent years, the number of Yellow-breasted Bunting has continued to plummet. Amid rapid development of China, coupled with the drastic decrease in paddy field, hunters headed north to slaughter and transport the victims back to the Guangdong markets. Hunting of Yellow-breasted Bunting can still be found in the coastal area in eastern China.”

Apart from overhunting, the breeding, migratory and wintering grounds of Yellow-breasted Bunting in China have been destroyed and the overuse of pesticides has also worsen the situation. Moreover, as the birds migrate in large groups, if they are captured in large numbers, it will pose huge impacts on their population.

Mr. Simba Chan, Senior Conservation Officer, Asia Division of BirdLife International said, “To protect Yellow-breasted Bunting, the most important thing is to prohibit poaching and trading, as well as to step up law enforcement and provide more reporting channels. It is also important to conduct research to monitor the population and organize publicity and education programmes.”

Although agriculture has been on the decline in Hong Kong, the positive results achieved in bird conservation by the Government and local organizations, alongside the fact that all wild birds are protected by law, Yellow-breasted Bunting continues to be recorded in the territory. Ms. Yeung Lee Ki, Vicky, Assistant Manager (Projects) of HKBWS, pointed out that, “The HKBWS and the Conservancy Association co-organized a wetland management scheme in Long Valley eight years ago. One of the key accomplishments is the resumption of paddy-rice growing which gradually attracts Yellow-breasted Bunting and other buntings to the field. The number of Yellow-breasted Bunting started to increase and reached the high of 47 individuals in the winter of 2012. The abundance of other buntings is also increasing. Although the abundance is still much lower than that of the peak period in the past, Long Valley still plays an important role in bird conservation in Hong Kong by serving as an oasis for Yellow-breasted Bunting and other buntings. The HKBWS hopes that such management measures can secure a stable and safe environment for endangered species to stop over or to spend the winter. Through various educational activities and the sale of Long Valley Eco-rice, the HKBWS also hopes to enhance public awareness on Yellow-breasted Bunting and the associated paddy field habitats.”

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