Last updated: August 1999
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Conservation News
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Mai Po Update |
| Farmland birds in Hong Kong |
| Front-line Workers at Deep Bay |
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 Conservation News
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By Mike Kilburn
Further disturbance to Shek Ngau Chau
HFC saw two persons on the island on 23 May 1999. CNN said that AFD should have already put up a warning sign on the island. He would follow up with So Ping Man of AFD.
Apart from putting up a warning sign, other possible measures were discussed, including giving pamphlets to the boat owners and starting a campaign to promote protection of wild seabirds.
Tai Ho and Mui Wo Threatened by New Road
A controversial plan by the Highways Department to construct a road from the N Lantau Highway through the Tai Ho Valley and south to Mui Wo looks set to cause serious ecological damage to some very good birding areas and a river holding unusually high numbers of fish species. In addition, a proposal to build a small housing estate of 17,000 people at the estuary has also been tabled.
This road was proposed as an alternative to widening the road from Tung Chung to South Lantau, which was shelved following the findings of an EIA. It seems no attempt has been made to draw comparisons between building a completely new road and widening the existing one. Were this to happen it is almost certain that widening the Tung Chung Road would cause less environmental damage than the new road through Tai Ho Wan and Mui Wo, and certainly so when the additional impact of the housing estate is considered.
During the planning for the airport concerns were raised that the whole of Lantau would be opened up for development. Following strong protests from green groups and Lantau residents, Government made a commitment that South Lantau would remain largely unchanged and would not be subject to large scale development. The road to Mui Wo would be the first step to opening up South Lantau as it would be a two lane highway, and according to its submission to EPD, Highways has already made provision for road widening.
The Tai Ho valley has some importance for birds. The river- mouth mangroves hold a pair of Striated Herons and four species of Kingfisher have been recorded. The area attracts Red-winged Cuckoos in summer and one day both Bonellibreeding birds. During winter this is a good area for cettia warblers and thrushes. The area is well worth exploring during migration seasons, with good numbers of Dollarbirds seen this spring, while the hills between Tai Ho and Mui Wo held several Woodcock through the winter and a Fairy Pitta in September.
On the Mui Wo side the very good fung shui woods at Pak Ngan Heung, Wo Tin and around Luk Tei Tong, the farmland and the marsh are even more important. Most important are the records of Red Data species Styans of bittern have been recorded on the marsh and in the woods Black Baza and Hair-crested Drongo breed, as does Blue Whistling Thrush.
Another interesting area is the valley and low hills around Wo Tin village, behind Pak Ngan Heung. This is an area of orchards, small fields and a marsh surrounded by mature fung shui woods and intersected by several streams. These streams feed a waterfall, a local beauty spot.
Other wildlife resident in the area includes the rare Tokay Gecko, Barking Deer and several species of snake. The Society will continue to monitor developments on this lovely area of Lantau and a Society outing will visit the area on 18 September. (see page 27 for details).
Shuen Wan Marsh
It is a pleasure to report that Government has removed the mud which was dumped here illegally, and that the marsh is returning to its previous state. However a member reported filling at another part of the marsh on a small scale. This has been reported and a response is awaited.
Pressure intensifies on Long Valley
A note on the Society bulletin board has brought attention to the Executive Councilhighly threatened dry and wet agricultural habitat.
The main feature article of this issue highlights the wealth of birds making use of these habitats, of which Long Valley is undoubtedly the most important in Hong Kong. A full EIA is required by law and will begin before the end of the year.
A recent visit to Long Valley showed that villagers were planting previously fallow land along proposed route of the railway with fruit trees, it is suspected with an eye on land resumption compensation. WWF is coordinating an agricultural land use study which will be conducted over the next couple of months. This survey will deliver invaluable information on the agricultural history of Long Valley and the attitudes of local landowners.
Another road of dubious value is planned to cut right across the valley from near Yin Gong village to the north-east corner. Developments will be followed closely.
San Tin EIA Seriously Flawed
HKBWS has commented on the environmental impact assessment for the construction of the main drainage channel at San Tin, a part of the area of fishponds and wetlands which runs from Deep Bay east along the Shum Chun River. This channel will cause the loss of several hectares of fishponds, and will further damage the existing wetland on the site.
The proposed mitigation measures - concrete-lined flood alleviation ponds, a grasscrete-lined drainage channel and an unmanaged marsh - have been dealt with sparingly, and do not seem to be substantiated by scientifically valid data. It was also discovered that illegal filing of ponds and preliminary construction work was conducted before the EIA was even submitted, let alone approved.
| Mai Po Update
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By Lew Young
Mai Po Management Plan
The Mai Po Management Plan for the years 1999-2003 was endorsed by the WWF HK Mai PO Management Committee in May, and will be going up to the Government
Futian Management Plan
Two years ago the Urban Planning and Design Institute of Shenzhen was contracted by the Shenzhen Government to draft a management plan for Futian National Nature Reserve. In May a group of Chinese wetland experts were invited to Shenzhen to comment on the final draft of the plan. Many of these experts expressed the view that apart from protecting wildlife, the reserve should also be used for raising the awareness of local students and the public about the importance of conservation. Any groups visiting the reserve would also need to be carefully controlled in order to minimise disturbance to the reserve.
The experts also suggested, as a long-term goal of the reserve, that a cross-border protected area should be established one day, incorporating Futian, Mai Po and the Inner Deep Bay Ramsar site.
Once the comments have been included in the plan, it will be submitted to the municipal government for approval. Afterwards, the government will release funds to build visitor facilities, including hides, boardwalks and a new administration block.
| Farmland birds in Hong Kong
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By Mike Leven
What is agricultural land?
Whilst the bird communities, in Hong Kong, of such habitats as wetlands, forest and shrublands are relatively amenable to definition; it is less straight-forward to define the bird community of agricultural land. In Hong Kong, historically, agricultural land has formed as a patchwork within a largely anthropogenic landscape, all possible products of which were directly utilised by man. Thus, a definition of the bird community of farmland must be integrated into a framework which establishes which of the components of this landscape are defined as agricultural land. Government land use categorisations or traditional usage of land result in, respectively, too narrow or too broad a definition of just what constitutes agriculture and the unique history of land ownership and land use in Hong Kong renders comparisons with international usage of terms largely meaningless.
Accordingly, whilst recognising that the following definition is reductionist, the bird community of agricultural land has been defined as the populations of birds which utilise areas where a human community is engaged in production of terrestrial crops or animals. Thus, it includes areas which are temporarily or permanently not used for this purpose but which are an integral part of areas where production is taking place, such as fallow fields, or ponds and channels associated with irrigation works. Excluded are areas where agriculture has been permanently abandoned, fung shui woods and areas where production is based on an aquatic system such as fishponds and gei-wai.
Within this framework, there are major differences between the bird communities found in areas where water is permanently utilised for irrigation (here termed wetland agriculture) and areas where there is no surface water for at least a part of the year (dryland agriculture).
Dryland agriculture
At least from an ornithological perspective, dryland agriculture is characterised by a patchwork of vegetable and flower crops, orchards and tree nurseries. Interspersed with active agricultural areas are houses and fallow fields, the latter either covered with broad-leaved herbs or perennial grasses or woody shrubs, depending upon the period of abandonment.
The bird community of these areas is characterised by generalists, most of which are also found in areas of wetland agriculture, the urban fringe and on landfill or open storage sites. Thus, the most conspicuous resident species are Spotted Dove, Hong Kong Pycnonotus bulbul, Oriental Magpie Robin, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Common Tailorbird, Masked Laughingthrush, Long-tailed Shrike, Black Drongo, Black-collared Starling and Crested Mynah. Of these species, dryland agriculture is perhaps most important for Long-tailed Shrike and Black- collared Starling, though both these species are equally, if not more, common in wetland agricultural areas.
One species of summer visitor, the Plaintive Cuckoo is, however, primarily restricted to this habitat. This cuckoo is a brood-parasite on the Common Tailorbird , but unlike that species does not occur in shrubland or forest. Amongst the non-breeding visitors, a number of passerines favour this habitat and for several of these it is important. Of the Turdidae, the Daurian Redstart and the Common Stonechat are conspicuous. Both these species also utilise upland areas of grassland with shrubs, and the Common Stonechat is found in lowland grassland areas, but their numbers are at least as great in dry farmland as elsewhere. Dry farmland also provides habitat for a number of granivores of which the greatest numbers, both of species and birds, are buntings. The Black-faced Bunting is probably the most abundant and is certainly the most widespread of these, but dry agricultural areas are relatively more important for Chestnut-eared Buntings,Little Buntings and Yellow-breasted Buntings. Whilst the latter two species occur, especially as passage migrants, in other open habitats (including wetland agricultural areas), the Chestnut- eared Bunting, is now largely restricted to dryland agricultural areas and is much rarer in Hong Kong than it was during the 1930s to 1950s. This may have been a species which made use of rice fields in Hong Kong as it did in Guangdong , but the reason for the decline in Hong Kong is unknown. Yellow-breasted Buntings have also declined significantly in Hong Kong in the last 30 years and it is strongly suspected that this is a consequence of increased trapping for food in China.
Three other graniverous passerines, all of which have declined in Hong Kong in the last 30 years, are also particularly associated with dryland agriculture. The Common Rosefinch , has never been common in Hong Kong, but is now rare; whilst the Crested Bunting was formerly a common breeding species in the uplands and wintered in lower elevation agricultural areas nearby. The reasons for the decline in numbers of both these species are unclear and may differ, since the Crested Bunting appears always to have been resident in Hong Kong, whilst the rosefinch is a winter visitor. Finally, the Yellow-billed Grosbeak is a winter visitor associated with areas of orchards, which has declined greatly since around 1980. It seems likely that this decline is a consequence of an increase in exports from China to Europe and North America for the cage bird trade. Dryland agriculture is, in general, less important for non-passerine species; but it is the main habitat utilised by Black-winged Kite which is a recent, and still very rare colonist. It is also an important habitat for Japanese Quail, a scarce winter visitor and the unrelated, but superficially similar Yellow-legged Buttonquail and Barred Buttonquail probably also utilise it to a significant extent but their status in Hong Kong remains obscure.
Wetland agriculture
Wetland agriculture in Hong Kong, though formerly dominated by rice production, is now largely associated with the production of vegetable crops, notably Water Spinach and Watercress. Both these crops are cultivated in flooded or at least damp fields and the resulting management regime produces a series of wetland microhabitats ranging from flooded ditches and reservoirs and fields covered with shallow water to marshy fields with emergent herbaceous vegetation. Furthermore, the patchwork of land ownership and management regimes results in areas of wet grassland and temporarily abandoned herb-filled fields and, at least at Long Valley, damp fields are retained for the pasturing of domestic Water Buffalos, providing yet another microhabitat.
With a few exceptions, discussed above, wetland agricultural areas generally support those species which are found in dryland agricultural areas; together with others which elsewhere occur in brackish or salt water wetlands. However, it is the use of this habitat by species which are freshwater specialists which requires special attention. Most ardeids in Hong Kong utilise areas of wetland agriculture to some extent, but it is particularly important for the breeding populations of Cattle Egrets, perhaps especially where Water Buffalo are present, and migrant populations of the Cinnamon Bittern and the globally threatened Schrenck's Bittern. The Cinnamon Bittern formerly bred in Hong Kong, being a summer visitor to rice paddies in the Deep Bay area, but now appears to be solely a passage migrant; though it still breeds in rice paddies in Guangdong.
The most celebrated bird species of wetland agriculture in Hong Kong is, however, the Greater Painted-snipe which has now been demonstrated to depend entirely on such areas for its continued survival as a breeding species in Hong Kong. Only two populations are now known; at Long Valley and at Kam Tin, though as a consequence of recent developments, the Kam Tin population is now associated with abandoned rather than cultivated agricultural land.
Closely associated with the Greater Painted-snipe in terms of habitat preferences, though showing wider tolerances, are the three species of "true" snipe occurring in Hong Kong: the Common Snipe , the Pintail Snipe and the Swinhoe・s Snipe. The last two of these show a particular preference for agricultural areas over other wetland habitat types. Two other species which formerly bred in Hong Kong, but which are now only present as scarce passage migrants, the Watercock and the Pheasant- tailed Jacana are also now most often found in wetland agricultural areas. Unfortunately, neither species finds them suitable for breeding.
Whilst it is the larger wading birds which have attracted most attention as being dependant upon wetland agriculture, this is also the principal habitat for a series of open country passerines. The Richard Luscinia and Acrocephalus spp. also utilise this habitat extensively, though these also occur around fishponds and in reedbeds.
A number of species of starling reach high densities in areas of wetland agriculture, most notably the White-shouldered Starling and the White-cheeked Starling. The first of these species was formerly a common breeding bird in Hong Kong, occurring even in urban areas, but is now scarce and some populations, at least, are dependant upon agricultural areas for their survival.
Agricultural land within the land use matrix
It is becoming increasingly apparent that comparatively little is known concerning the way in which species move between habitats in Hong Kong; and one oversight has been the way in which agricultural land is used by birds during a part of their life cycle. The requirement to conserve not only egretries but also egrets・ feeding areas is now widely recognised but for some other species, understanding of the use of agricultural land is in its infancy. To take just one example, few ducks are found at Long Valley during daytime but several hundred dabbling ducks were recently observed flying there to feed at dusk. Such nocturnal use of farmland by Anas spp. is widely known from elsewhere in the world but, if this is a regular pattern, may require a re-evaluation of the conservation management strategy for these species.
The importance of agricultural land for birds
To put this discussion in perspective; from the days of Vaughan and Jones (1913), Herklots (1953) and to the present, birdwatchers in Hong Kong have recognised that agricultural land in Hong Kong has a characteristic bird community and that some species are more readily found in such areas than elsewhere. However, other than the anecdotal approach adopted by Herklots (1951), this habitat has largely been neglected in the published literature. Thus, it is only in the late 1990s, with the realisation that the last few areas of wetland agriculture are under threat, that any attempts have been made to quantify the importance of the bird community of agricultural land. However, whilst some agricultural areas, notably Long Valley, have been the subject of (unpublished) studies, the author is unaware of any previous attempt to bring together published and unpublished observations in order to provide an overview of the importance of agricultural land in a Hong Kong context.
Faced with such a blank canvas, this synthesis hardly represents the final word on the definition of the bird community of farmland in Hong Kong. However, whilst the details remain to be resolved, the available evidence strongly suggests that agricultural land provides an important habitat for a number of species of birds in Hong Kong and that, in contrast to current thinking in some quarters, the protection of agricultural land is an important conservation priority.
Appendix 1 Provisional priorities for conservation of farmland birds
Appendix 2 (pdf format) details a list of 84 species for which agricultural land is considered to support a significant portion of the population present in Hong Kong. Some of these are common and widespread generalists, but for 32 of these species agricultural land is probably the major habitat type now utilised in the SAR. This may seem to be a rather small proportion of Hong Kong・s avifauna, but it includes a high proportion of its threatened species including three lost breeding birds: (Cinnamon Bittern, Watercock and Pheasant-tailed Jacana); three severely threatened breeding species (Greater Painted-snipe, Grey-capped Greenfinch and Crested Bunting); and three wintering species of which the population of which has declined significantly in recent years (Common Rosefinch, Yellow-billed Grosbeak and Chestnut-eared Bunting.
In addition, agricultural land constitutes the principal habitat utilised in Hong Kong by two species included in Collar et al. (1994), Schrenck・s Bittern and Grey-headed Lapwing (Near-threatened globally); as well as being an important habitat for two further species, Red-billed Starling (Near- threatened) and Japanese Yellow Bunting (Vulnerable).
Appendix 2 Farmland species in Hong Kong (download)
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Front-line Workers at Deep Bay
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By Carrie Ma
Disturbance to birds and wildlife by illegal fishermen who cross the border to the Deep Bay mudflats is no longer news. These fishermen catch mudskippers and set up nets to catch birds. This has become one of the most controversial issues raised by HKBWS and conservationists. Government departments, notably AFD and the Police Force have come under close scrutiny, but it is proving difficult to prevent these fishermen's activities in Deep Bay Ramsar site.
Last December the writer conducted a two-hour interview with Mr T L Lam and Mr P M Chan, AFD wardens at Mai Po. As front-line workers they face dangerous conditions and pressures in doing their jobs. This article is intended to highlight some of these issues and increase members・ understanding of the role played by AFD's frontline wardens.
"Territories" on the mudflat
Active fishing has been going on the Deep Bay mudflats since the 1980s. Various "territories" are occupied by fishermen at Futian for fishing and catching birds. Fishermen from other parts of Guangdong, particularly from Xinhuai work near Mai Po and Tsim Bei Tsui. To avoid competition over territories, they also leave their fishing-boats there.
Fishing at Deep Bay follows seasonal patterns. >From November to April of the Lunar Calendar, is the "Duck Period" - the peak time for catching ducks. The "Mudskipper Period" runs from March to June and September is the crab season. In the past, there were active trade of this harvest from Deep Bay between local and Chinese fishermen. However, in recently most of these products are sold in China.
Obstacle to work execution
"Conditions have changed since the declaration of the Ramsar Site," said Mr Lam. Their work has become more complicated, and they face more pressure and greater responsibility. To limit disturbance caused by these fishermen at Deep Bay, they make regular patrols to search for illegal activities and to chase the fishermen out of SAR territory. Sometimes they confiscate their tools (such as fishing nets and mud skateboards). Once an illegal fishermen is caught, their ID card is confiscated and the case becomes a matter for the Police.
Several simple huts discovered in the mangroves are used to store tools. The huts are often difficult to find as they can be covered by the mangroves. Helicopters are used to locate them.
"When we carry out patrols and chase the fishermen, people don patrol, to arrest or chase them is quite easy. However, we were once surprised to be surrounded and threatened by a gang of fishermen. Once they said that they would shoot us. In the face of such dangerous situations our only sensible way forward is not to arrest or chase the fishermen, but to ．compromise・ or to ．be careful・.；
Mr Chan still has lingering fears for his safety following this unforgettable experience. Now, each time they carry out patrols they inform the Police. "We have been surrounded by mangrove forest and unable to find an exit. Our colleagues fear for our safety - sometimes there are snakes hiding inside hides, huts and fishing nets.；
The work of this sixteen-strong team is not only confined to the Ramsar wetland. They also have to carry out patrols in the Sai Kung area, at Starling Inlet, Ma Tso Lung and other areas. During migration seasons, their manpower allocations become tighter under the increased workload.
Conflicts between fishermen and bird-watchers
Apart from field patrols, they are responsible for protecting fishermen's property from outside interference and protecting wildlife. As a front-line worker, they apparently become the ．middle-person・ between conservationists and fishermen. A few years ago, fishing nets were hung over the fishponds of Ma Tso Lung to discourage foraging egrets and cormorants, which led to conflicts between fishermen and birders. ：Similar conflicts still happen, but it seems more fishermen have some knowledge of conservation and the frequency of such conflicts has decreased markedly. On the other hand, we also feel some sympathy for these fishermen because they have to support their families. Our work is to meet fishermen and the greatest challenge is to mediate disputes,； Mr Lam said.
Possible solutions
Mr Lam mentioned that with limited manpower, they hope to co-operate with executive departments of the Marine Police to control and avoid disturbance to wildlife caused by illegal fishermen. AFD has ordered a hovercraft. It is hoped that this will lead to more efficient patrols. Besides, it is important to maintain a constant exchange of information between the Hong Kong and China Governments. Mr Lam noted the tight security at the border fence during the period of reunification of Hong Kong to China, when there were no reports of illegal fishermen. This suggested that such cooperation is indeed possible, and that similar measures and implementation is a necessity. He also believes Marine Police should strengthen their work on prosecution to stop the activity of fishermen in Deep Bay area.
Mr Chan added, bird watchers should pay more attention to the illegal fishermen's activity. It would help greatly if bird watchers could inform them directly if they note any suspected illegal fishermen within Mai Po or the Ramsar site reserve at 2471 4411 or by fax 2482 9894.
Looking Forward
It seems clear that to control or to eradicate the fishermen's activities in the Deep Bay area is not an easy task within a short time. The safety of front-line workers is a key concern along with increasing co-operation and information exchange between government departments on both sides of the border. We hope birders continue to offer help by informing the AFD information and location of suspected illegal fishermen.
| Past Conservation News |
