Over the coming winter months, trash fish - mainly 3 to 6 inch Tilapia - will be stocked on a bi-weekly basis into
Gei wai #3 at Mai Po Nature Reserve for feeding Cormorants. This is part of a large programme to reduce Cormorant predation on commercial fish in the fishponds around Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay.
From 16 December 2008 until mid-March 2009 (exception being the Chinese New Year period: 21st January to 2nd February 2009 and if temperatures fall below 10 degrees Celsius), fish farmers will deliver two trucks of fish (2,600 catties), every Tuesday and Friday for stocking into
Gei wai #3. Three trucks of fish will be delivered on 2nd, 9th and 16th January 2008. The feeding commences at 08:00 and lasts for about 20 minutes, however birds will remain in the
gei wai for much longer afterwards. In previous years the stocking programme attracted up to 1,000 Cormorants to feed, along with hundreds of herons and egrets. Thus, the stocking presents a fantastic opportunity to watch and photograph thousands of birds congregating together as they feast on the fish. The small bird-watching hide/hut by the road can allow for close up views.
For enquiry, please contact
Janet Lee
Conservation Officer, Mai Po Projects
Tel: 3193 7502
jlee@wwf.org.hk
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Last edited by WWF Mai Po at 17/12/2008 14:07 ]
