本會的調查員於上周五在米埔附近一個魚塘中，記錄到一隻全球極度瀕危 (CR) 的勺嘴鷸(Spoon-billed Sandpiper)。
該魚塘正與本會合作進行生境管理協議計劃，把魚塘水位調低，引來大量涉禽棲息覓食。由羽毛顏色可見，這隻勺嘴鷸是去年剛出生的年輕個體。香港已經一段時間未有記錄首年度夏的個體，上一個記錄是整整十年前在2007年5月中記錄到的。勺嘴鷸於十年內全球數量劇減，其幼鳥的死亡率較高為其中一個重要因素，而香港多年沒有幼鳥的紀錄跟全球數量銳減不無關係。故此，首年個體存活與否，對其物種存續極為重要。
而今次於合作的魚塘中記錄到這種全球極度瀕危的鳥種，對我們的保育工作有非常正面的鼓勵作用，希望各位可以繼續支持本會的保育工作及選購本地淡水魚以支持本地養殖漁業，謝謝！
Our surveyor recorded a globally critically endangered (CR) Spoon-billed Sandpiper at a drained fishpond near Mai Po last Friday.
The fishpond operator has engaged in the habitat management agreement project organized by our Society, by lowering down the water level, many shorebirds attracted to this fishpond to loaf and forage. We noticed that this young Spoon-billed Sandpiper was born last year from its plumage. The last record of the first summer individual in Hong Kong recorded in mid-May 2007, which was about 10 years ago. The population of Spoon-billed Sandpiper declines rapidly over the last decade, the decline attributes to the relatively high death rate of this species in the first year. Therefore, it is closely related to the absence of first summer individuals recorded in Hong Kong, and it is very important for this bird to survive its first year.
Recording this globally critically endangered species is a very encouraging sign to our conservation work. We hope that all of you can continuously support our work and local farmed freshwater fish. Thank you!
