Geoff
In the Shing Mun/ Lead Mine Pass area, Orange-bellied leafbirds have declined terribly, and Blue whistling thrushes could hardly be heard in some seasons. One of the chief causes could be that, according to an AFCD official's observation, the feral monkeys around snatch up bird eggs for food. He once saw some monkey did that to a nest built by a pair of OBLs.
I think that AFCD is a lot behind in curbing the damage done by the local monkeys to birds in breeding season. Culling and absolute prohibition by withdrawing feeding licenses even to a few on humanitarian grounds is necessary. For monkeys spread out once overpopulated, probably from Kowloon Reservoir.
S L Tai
