“Records 215 – HK Bird Watching Competition 2012” will be held from April 8 to 9. We'd like to express our gratitude to all participating teams for their participation and donation.
For those who chose not to participating the competition, we'd like to call for your support by direct donation to the Society in order to aid the selected bird conservation works in China (details as follows). Donation of $100 or above is tax deductible.
Please return your donation by cheque together with the pledge form to our office.
Taking the opportunity of this competition, the Society would like to raise fund for selected bird conservation works in China. As a result of rapid economic development in China, damage and even loss of habitats for birds has threatened the survival of many species. Some endangered or critically endangered species are put at risk of extinction if nothing is done. The Society is planning for 2 conservation works that need your help:
Conservation of “Blue-crowned Laughingthrush” at Wuyuan, Jiangxi
The Blue-crowned Laughingthrush (Garrulax courtoisi) is a critically endangered species in the IUCN Red List and is endemic to China. The total population is estimated at less than 250 individuals. The historical distribution of this species was in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province and Simao Yunnan. After years of searching, a breeding population was rediscovered in 2000 in Wuyuan. The bird is now facing the threats of heavy trapping, habitat loss and lack of legal protection. We do not have much information about the bird and there is a concern of losing its population in the wild, so conservation action in needed for this unique bird in China.
Resources for more surveys are needed to reveal the secrets of this critically endangered specie so that conservation works can be identified.
Conservation of “Scaly-sided Merganser” in northeast China
The Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus) is an endangered species in the IUCN Red List. The remaining population is estimated to contain about 1,000-2,500 individuals. In the last 40 years, the population keeps declining. Being a migratory species, Scaly-sided Merganser breeds in regions at Chinese-Korean-Russian border each year, and the majority of the birds spend the winter in central and southern China (Jiangxi and Fujian). They are now facing the threats of habitat loss, illegal hunting and human disturbances.
Resources are needed to facilitate artificial nest box for this endangered specie to compensate the habitat loss at its main breeding site.