HKBWS Chuan

The Society and the Egrets Research Group have been working together on this issue.  We will be in close contact with CEDD and AFCD, especially dealing with the measures needed to prevent disturbances.  We have been, and will continue, to conduct site visits to the egretry regularly for any suspicious activities.

HKBWS Chuan

Thanks for your concern, we are still keeping a close watch on this case.  When it is appropriate, the Society will provide further information.

HKBWS Chuan

As an organization that is committed to the conservation of birds, we are taking actions on this issue.  Given that this is still an open case, there are sensitivity issues in releasing information at this moment.  I assure you that once we have a formal response, our members will be informed.

HKBWS Chuan

Last week, an informal discussion with AFCD and issuance of a formal letter written to CEDD was done to voice out our concerns.  The Society and the Egrets Research Group have conducted site visits to the egretry to get a better understanding of what is happening.

Today, we received a formal response to our letter to CEDD and they agree to suspend all works during the breeding months between April and July.  They confirmed there are no tree felling and no excavation for this project.   Their contractors are now cleaning up the site for the suspension and are anticipated to leave the construction site within this week.  Since the slope is located next to a busy street, the hoarding will remain for public safety reasons and the condition of the slope will be inspected periodically.   

Don't be surprised if you see the scaffold and platform still present during these few months, we advised CEDD not to disassemble the site at this time because during this time of the year the egrets begin pairing up.  We want to avoid any potential disturbances as much as possible from now until the end of July so the egrets can nest peacefully.

CEDD has also taken the initiative to keep communicating with the Society and we will be informed when construction begins after the end of the breeding months.  The Society appreciates CEDD's proactive response and willingness to implement our suggestions.  We thank our members for their concerns and information provided to help tackle this issue.

HKBWS Chuan

Aside from our communication with government, we visited the egretry with reporters yesterday to explain to them the situation.  We hope the public can gain a better understanding of how birds share the environment with us.

大埔斜坡工程 恐礙鷺鳥繁殖
Hong Kong Economic Times 經濟日報
http://www.hket.com/eti/article/ ... 9b16cccefb75-954081

圍木板移除大片攀藤　 政府工程趕絕鷺鳥
Apple Daily 蘋果日報
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20140319/18661236

斜坡工程擾鷺林 繁殖期停工半年
Ming Pao 明報
http://news.mingpao.com/20140319/gmc1.htm

The egg comes first, engineers find as building work is halted to protect egret colony
South China Morning Post
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko ... irst-engineers-find

HKBWS Chuan

Yes that is a good point, in fact, the conditions of the trees will need to be maintained so the tree crowns remain suitable for nesting in the long term.

The slope was originally covered by concrete with vines on top.  Right now they have cleared the vines and you can see the concrete cover of the slope.  The trees have adapted to this condition and have been able to grow healthily.  

Now the concern will be how the upcoming slope works will affect the trees, particularly the roots.  Fortunately, now that CEDD has suspended their works in these months we hope to have the opportunity to liaise with them, not only to get a better understanding of the works but also to suggest tree protection measures and greening potentials for the slope.

HKBWS Chuan

Our Egrets Research Group paid a visit to the egretry recently and reported signs of courting and nest-building for Little Egrets, Great Egrets and Black-crowned Night Herons.  We are glad to see they are still using the site and now that the construction works have stopped they should be able to nest peacefully.

Our Egretry Count surveys will begin in April, each month until the month of July the egretry will be surveyed by counting the number of nests present.  

For more information on our past reports, you can visit http://www.hkbws.org.hk/web/eng/egret_report_eng.htm
There is also a training session held in May if you are interested in participating in the egretry counts.  http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/view ... &extra=page%3D1

HKBWS Chuan

我們很高興能夠向大家宣佈，大埔墟的鷺鳥林仍然是活躍的。本年度繁殖期暫時錄得的鳥巢數目與過去數年相約。我們於上星期的視察中，能看見雛鳥在巢上及斜坡上的樹蔭之下。
We are pleased to announce that the colony at Tai Po Market is active and that the number of nests recorded during this year’s breeding season so far is comparable to that of previous years.  During a visit to the colony last week, fledglings were seen in nests and at the understory of the trees on the slope.

我們再一次感謝土木工程及拓展署能就這事件與我們合作及在整個鷺鳥繁殖期間暫停所有工程。我們會在未來數個月繼續與土木工程及拓展署緊密聯繫，以確保所有雛鳥都在復工前離開它們的鳥巢。
We once again would like to thank CEDD for working with us on this issue and suspending constructions for the entire breeding season.  We will be in contact with them in the upcoming months to make sure that fledglings have left their nests before the construction works start again.

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HKBWS Chuan

Last week, the Egret Research Group has confirmed there are no active nests at the colony.  

This week, CEDD will begin their construction works at the site again.  As good practice, CEDD has suggested to start in areas furthest away from the core of the colony so the roosting birds can slowly become desensitized to the construction activities.  

The Society once again expresses our gratitude for CEDD's willingness to collaborate with us during these past months.