THE HONG KONG BIRD WATCHING SOCIETY LTD.
The Fifth Annual General Meeting (2007)
Chairman's Report
Dr. Cheung HO Fai
(Oct 2006 to Sept 2007)
Membership
1. The latest figure is 973 members this year. Last year same time we have 854 members. The growth in membership has been health.
2. There were 139 Crested Bulbul Club members at present.
Bird Watching Records and Research
Local
1. Collection of bird records and review continued. New species to the HK list have been added in November 2006.
2. HK Bird Report 2001-02 was published in March 2007. Geoff Carey has taken up the Chief Editor position from Mike Turnbull.
3. The Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site Waterbird Monitoring Programme continued to be supported by AFCD contract.
4. The bird survey in Long Valley has produced some good result. The effectiveness of the various management actions has been measured. The Shallow Water Habitat has proven to be the most effective in attracting birds. The overall bird population in Long Valley increased by about 20% compare to last year.
5. AFCD has contracted HKBWS to survey bird on Po Toi in Spring 2007. Mr. Geoff Welsh has completed the work single-handedly. Result once again proves that Po Toi is excellent for monitoring bird migration through HK. HKBWS was also quite concerned about possible land development in Po Toi.
6. Report on the five HKBWS research groups.
(a) Egret Research Group – The group continued to survey breeding egrets. Their result showed that the number of nests has decreased significantly this year.
(b) BF Spoonbill Research Group – The group continued the BF Spoonbill Age Study and BF Spoonbill International Census (partially supported by Schmidt Marketing (HK) Ltd.). The proceeding of International Symposium on BF Spoonbill (funded by The Croucher Foundation and ECC) was published this year. The draft of the Birdlife BF Spoonbill Action Plan was released recently.
(c) Tern Research Group –
※The group continued surveying breeding terns in Hong Kong. In addition to regular visits to Mirs Bay, two other major colonies at Sai Kung and near Po Toi were also monitored. The last site is a new colony and is the most successful one in this season, with sightings of chicks of all three breeding species.
※The Black-naped colony at Mirs Bay recovered slightly from the zero count last year. However the number of Bridled Terms at the traditional colony continued to decline, from the average of over 350 birds in 2003 to 100 this year.
※A “No landing on Tern Islands” campaign was launched early in the breeding season to remind the public, especially photographers, not to disturb tern colonies.
※A public lecture on breeding terns was given at the Hong Kong Wetland Park in July.
※
ublic exhibition on terns manned by members of the Crested Bulbul Club was held on 4 Saturdays / Sundays at Tap Mun.
(d) Kite Research Group – The group continued monthly Kite counts.
(e) Swift and Swallow Research Group – The group continued to survey Swallow Nest this year.
China and Overseas
1. China Bird Report 2005 was published in Nov 2006. HKBWS continued to help English translation and editorial work and also to sell the report to support the publishing and mailing cost.
2. China Conservation Fund – Four projects from China were eventually funded, including surveying projects on Swallow Survey in Quizhou, General Bird Survey in Wuyishan, General Survey in Shunlungia Hunan, and Swallow Education in Beijing. HKBWS continued to fund the China Coastal Waterbird Survey through a special donation. The survey has been carried out for two years already. A report of the result is still under preparation. A meeting is planned to discuss changes in this survey next year.
Conservation
1. HKBWS Long Valley Management Project: Funded by ECF and commenced in December 2005, the projected has run well. All proposed management actions were already in place, and education tours for the public were organized. Vicky Yeung has done a good job for this project. The project will end later this year, but a continual proposal has been in preparation. Possible cooperation with CA will be sought. HKBWS has also explored chances of managing other sites of conservation interested.
2. HKBWS Conservation Committee has looked at the many issues over the period, including:
• Possible installation of Wind Turbines in HK
• Bird strike threats by transparent sound barriers in HK
• Ways to stop illegal dumping at Kam Tin
• Propose to government to set up a Conservation Trust in HK
3. HKBWS has publicly advocated the banning of all wild bird trade in HK. A press conference has been organized in April to explain the distribution of Avian Flu virus in Hong Kong, and linked that to wild bird trade. At last in June this year, Avian Flu H5N1 virus was found in a living sample in the Mongkok Bird Market. Still the government has refused the banning of wild bird trade in HK. HKBWS will continue to monitor the Avian Flu situation in HK.
Publications
1. HKBWS Bulletin was published regularly. This year, a special issue on China Bird Watching activities is under planing.
2. Crested Bulbul Club has continued publishing quarterly bulletins.
3. Under the Long Valley Project, a leaflet and a training manual for long valley tour guides were published.
4. Under the Birdlife China Programme, several booklets (on education, survey planning and techniques, and project management), a leaflet (for beginning birdwatchers) and a poster (on Endangered Birds of China) were published in May.
5. A leaflet concerning the Waterbird Monitoring Project is in preparation. This year the theme is on species that shows significant increase and decrease in Hong Kong.
6. HKBWS has helped the Lands Department of HKSAR to publish the Hong Kong Guide 2007. Bird is chosen as the main theme.
7. HKBWS has helped the HK Post to publish a definitive set of stamps. This set of stamps has been launched in December 2006.
8. A new DVD on birds is under preparation.
9. A new edition of the “A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Hong Kong” is in preparation.
HKBWS Website
1. HKBWS website: The website has continued to gain popularity. In October 2006, a complete redesign of the forum and portal was launched.
2. A webpage on Long Valley will be lunched in September 2007 under. A student trainee from City University has helped setting up this webpage in summer.
3. HKBWS has helped to set up a web-based Bird ID game.
4. A discussion forum in Chinese, targeted for bird watchers in China Mainland, was in place starting from late 2006.
5. A BF Spoonbill leg-flagged reporting system was already in place starting from late 2006.
6. HKBWS has posted a guideline for photographers.
7. HKBWS has denounced the act of some websites that promote the landing of Tern breeding colony in Hong Kong. HKBWS will stop all co-operations with people supporting this act.
Projects
1. Long Valley Management Project (will end in Nov 2007)
2. Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site Waterbird Monitoring Programme (annual)
3. Black-faced Spoonbill International Census (Jan 2007)
4. Po Toi Bird Survey (Feb to May 2007)
5. Swallow project funded by China Light and Power (will be completed soon)
6. “Colours on Wings” Project (completed in Sept 2007)
7. The BirdLife-HKBWS China Programme (will end in March 2008)
8. The BirdLife-HKBWS Yunnan Monitoring Project – This is a project initiated from Asian Development Bank. Under this project, HKBWS will collect geographical and ecological data in Xishuanbana and other sites in Yunnan. This project was started in May 2005 and will last 2 years.
9. A new study named “Association of other waterbird species with wintering Balck-faced Spoonbills Platalea minor in Hong Kong” sponsored by ECF will be started from Nov 2007 headed by YT Yu.
Activities
1. There were 33 society outings and 10 indoor meetings this year.
2. The HKBWS Bird Watching Competition “Records 215” took place in March 2007.
3. A Bird Watching Classes for beginning bird watchers was completed in Oct 2006. Another Bird Watching Classes for intermediate bird watchers was completed in April 2007. A new class for beginners is planned in Nov 2007.
4. A training workshop for surveying Egret nest in Egretry was carried out again in April 2007.
5. World Wetlands Day: The Junior Bird Race was successfully organized in Dec 2006.
6. HKBWS participated in the “Flower, Bird, Insect and Fish Exhibition” that took place in Fanling in late December 2006.
7. An environmental education activity for primary school students was held in Hong Kong Park in Jan to Feb 2007.
8. HKBWS participated in the Taipei International Birdwatching Fair in Guandu Nature Park in November 2006.
9. Morning bird watching tours once per week continued to be run by the Crested Bulbul Club in Kowloon Park and Hong Kong Park. This activity has interrupted in winter due the occurrence of Avian Flu Virus in HK.
10. Members of the Crested Bulbul Club have helped to promote bird watching in Hong Kong Wetland Part starting in Sept 2006.
11. Several Crested Bulbul Club members again helped in the student bird race held in Futian, Shenzhen.
12. Nature education facility in University of Hong Kong (HKU): This is in progress. Further negotiation is needed.
13. HKBWS 50th Anniversary: A Workshop on Future Development of HKBWS was organized in July this year. About 60 members participated in this workshop. Summary of important comments from participants and a proposed future working direction has been posted on the web.
Mai Po Updates
1. Work on the new boardwalk hide was started already in July. The work will be completed by the end of October.
Staff Changes
1. Ms Dong Jiangtian started work on the Yunnan Monitoring Project from May 2007. There were also minor changes on temporary part-time staff from time to time.
Appendix: Committees and Officers
榮譽會長 Honorary President 林超英先生 Mr C Y Lam
董事會 Board of Directors 林超英先生 Mr C Y Lam
張浩輝博士 Dr H F Cheung
吳 敏先生 Mr Michael Kilburn
吳祖南博士 Dr C N Ng
陳慶麟先生 Mr Alan Chan
周智良小姐 Ms Ada Chow
李慧珠小姐 Ms Ronley Lee
執行委員會 Executive Committee
主席 Chairman 張浩輝博士 Dr H F Cheung
副主席 Vice-chairman 吳祖南博士 Dr C N Ng
副主席 Vice-chairman 吳 敏先生 Mr Michael Kilburn
秘書 Hon. Secretary 陳慶麟先生 Mr Alan Chan
司庫 Hon. Treasurer 周智良小姐 Ms Ada Chow
紀錄主任 Hon. Recorder Mr Richard Lewthwaite
委員 Committee members 李慧珠小姐 Ms Ronley Lee
方健華先生 Mr Forrest Fong
劉偉民先生 Mr Apache Lau
區俊茵小姐 Ms Joanne Au
楊路年博士 Dr Llewellyn Young
蘇毅雄先生 Mr Samson So
梁國華先生 Mr. Leung Kwok Wah
(紅耳鵯俱樂部主席 Chairman, Crested Bulbul Club)
核數師Auditor 胡子初會計師事務所 John Wu and Co.
會員事務委員會 Membership Affairs Committee
主席 Chairman 李慧珠小姐 Ms Ronley Lee
委員 Committee member 周智良小姐 Ms Ada Chow
詹玉明小姐 Ms Jimmy Chim
陳慶麟先生 Mr Alan Chan
葉大維先生 Mr. Dominic Yip
紀錄委員會 Records Committee (since 1957)
主席 Chairman 賈知行先生 Mr Geoff Carey
委員 Committee member Mr Richard Lewthwaite
利雅德先生 Mr Paul Leader
利偉文博士 Dr Michael Leven
張浩輝博士 Dr H F Cheung
余日東先生 Mr Yu Yat Tung
教育及推廣委員會 Education and Publicity Committee
主席 Chairman 劉偉民先生 Mr Apache Lau
委員 Committee members 呂德恒先生 Mr Henry Lui
馮寶基先生 Mr Robin Fung
陳明明先生 Mr Chan Ming Ming
洪維銘先生 Mr Hung Wai Ming
區俊茵小姐 Ms Joanne Au
陳季伯先生 Mr Chen Chi Po
陳皓賢先生 Mr Dominic Chan
陳琚瑋小姐 Ms Miranda Chan
任永耀先生 Mr Yam Wing Yiu
黃志俊先生 Mr Dickson Wong
紅耳鵯俱樂部委員會 Crested Bulbul Club Committee
主席 Chairman 梁國華先生 Mr Leung Kwok Wah
副主席 Vice-Chairman 黃潮樞先生 Mr Wong Chiu Shu
秘書 Secretary 鄭金源先生 Mr Chen Kam Yuen
總領隊 Chief Team Leader 蔡松柏先生 Mr Choi Chung Pak
總編輯 Chief Editor 陳季伯先生 Mr Chen Chi Po
組長 Team leaders 文權溢先生 Mr Bill Man
蔡松柏先生 Mr Choi Chung Pak
黃麗儀女士 Ms Wong Lai Yee
黃潮樞先生 Mr Wong Chiu Shu
吳仁娜女士 Ms Ng Yan Nar
洪禮鏞先生 Mr Hung Lai Yung
自然保育委員會 Conservation Committee
主席 Chairman 吳 敏先生 Mr Michael Kilburn
委員 Committee members 吳祖南博士 Dr C N Ng
方健華先生 Mr Forrest Fong
葉志立博士 Dr Yip Chi Lap
孔思義先生 Mr John Holmes
香港觀鳥會中國自然保育基金委員會 HKBWS China Conservation Fund
主席 Chairman 張浩輝博士 Dr Cheung Ho Fai
委員 Committee members 楊路年博士 Dr Llewellyn Young
Mr Richard Lewthwaite
余日東先生 Mr Yu Yat Tung
研究組 Research Groups
麻鷹研究組 Kite Research Group
召集人 Convenor 楊莉琪小姐 Ms Yeung Lee Ki
組員 Members 陳嘉欣小姐 Ms Karin Chan
呂德恒先生 Mr Henry Lui
葉志立博士 Dr Yip Chi Lap
陳天樂先生 Mr Chan Tin Lok
羅嘉怡小姐 Ms Lo Gar Yee
陳家煌先生 Mr Chan Ka Wang, Eric
黑臉琵鷺研究組 Black-faced Spoonbill Research Group
召集人 Convenor 余日東先生 Mr Yu Yat Tung
組員 Members 張浩輝博士 Dr H F Cheung
張 勇先生 Mr Louis Cheung
方健華先生 Mr Forrest Fong
盧嘉孟先生 Mr Anthony Lo
伍昌齡先生 Mr Felix Ng
黃志俊先生 Mr Dickson Wong
燕鷗研究組 Terns Research Group
召集人 Convenor 陳慶麟先生 Mr Alan Chan
組員 Members 張浩輝博士 Dr H F Cheung
余日東先生 Mr Yu Yat Tung
何萬邦先生 Mr Marcus Ho
任永耀先生 Mr Jacky Yam
鷺鳥研究組 Egrets and Herons Research Group
召集人 Convenor 黃倫昌先生 Mr Wong Lun Cheong
顧問 Advisor 楊路年博士 Dr Llewellyn Young
組員 Members 黃婉冰小姐 Ms Josephine Wong
馮志禮先生 Mr Fung Chi Lai
胡智傑先生 Mr Luke Woo
燕與雨燕研究組 Swallow and Swift Research Group
召集人 Convenor 劉偉民先生 Mr Apache Lau
組員 Members 詹兆泰博士 Dr S T Tsim
黃倫昌先生 Mr Wong Lun Cheong
黃凱欣小姐 Ms Solphia Wong
黃文傑先生 Mr William Wong
義工 Volunteers 孔穎如小姐 Ms Vera Hung
許美如小姐 Ms Elisa Hui
文權溢先生 Mr Man Kuen Yat Bill
葉大維先生 Mr. Dominic Yip
資訊科技組 IT Group
召集人 Convenor 方健華先生 Mr Forrest Fong
組員 Members 李國誠先生 Mr Lee Kwok Shing (網站主管Webmaster)
陳皓賢先生 Mr. Dominic Chan
陳家華先生 Mr. Jacky Chan
蔣偉安先生 Mr. Owen Chiang
古愛婉小姐 Ms Kitty Koo
伍耀成先生 Mr Karl Ng
黃凱茵小姐 Ms Sophia Wong
葉志立博士 Dr Yip Chi Lap
通訊出版組 Bulletin Production Team
統籌 Coordinator 李慧珠小姐 Ms Ronley Lee
英文編輯 English Editor 孔思義先生 Mr John Holmes
中文編輯 Chinese Editor 呂德恒先生 Mr Henry Lui
鳥類年報 Bird Report Production Team
編輯 Editors 賈知行先生 Mr Geoff Carey
Ms Helen Lockey
圖書館管理員 Librarian 張浩輝博士 Dr H F Cheung
駐英國代表 Representative in UK Mr Richard Stott
職員 Staff
經理(項目及傳訊) Manager (Projects & Communication) 羅偉仁先生 Mr Lo Wai Yan
中國項目主任China Programme Officer 張嘉穎小姐 Ms Fion Cheung
中國項目主任China Programme Officer (Yunnan) 董江天小姐 Ms Dong Jiangtian (started fr.May 2007)
項目主任 Project Officer 楊莉琪小姐 Ms Vicky Yeung
