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.”
