tbob

Early this morning (Saturday 15th November) the villagers at Long Valley were seen cutting down all the trees along the high bunds surrounding the fish ponds. The only reason I could think of for doing such an act is to prevent birds roosting.

I certainly hope that these are not ponds managed by the society, we will soon become a "birdless" society

[ Last edited by tbob at 15/11/2008 11:23 ]

HKBWS Vicky

Dear tbob,
Thank you for reporting this!
I'm sorry to say that the ponds are managed under the Long Valley MA project.
I have just called the pond owners to sort out what happened.
They are surely not cutting down trees to prevent bird roosting. The owner said there are many bugs and insects on trees which affect them and therefore they "trim" the trees. I know this trimming method doesn't look like the ordinary trimming, but this is the way that farmers in Long Valley usually do.
In addition, although the ponds are managed, trees and crops on the bund are not included in the agreement. We will try to advise the farmers on this issue.
Thank you once again!
Vicky

tbob

Vicky,

Thanks for the follow up. I certainly wont be using any of these people for tree "trimming"

Bob

Attached taken on Sunday morning 16th Nov 2008

HFCheung

I would think that waders such as Black-winged Stilt would welcome such "triming".  Some years ago, David Melville did similar "triming" to the scrape.  The result was well received by waders (wader number shot up).

I have not ordered this "triming" in LV.  Don't mis-read my message.

HF Cheung

hkwongkit

Wow! This trimming looks really excessive to me!
Now we lost all those nice green water reflection for bird photography too ...

tbob

Well they certainly got rid of the bugs and insects that were bothering them and it looks as though now they will have another problem of more birds in their fish ponds

Bob

PS: The trees actually prevented disturbance to the birds from people walking along the bunds. Personally I find it difficult to compare a small pond at Long Valley to the huge pond (the scrape 16-17 ) at Mai Po. But I most probably am wrong as usual.

[ Last edited by tbob at 16/11/2008 21:00 ]

tbob

KK,

I assume you mean reflections like in these shots.

All of these shots were taken in the affected pond before the trees were "trimmed" it used to be the main pond for Black-wing Stilts with up to 30 seen there regularly

Bob






[ Last edited by tbob at 17/11/2008 05:33 ]

hkwongkit

Great series, Bob!
That's exactly what we've now lost!!!

cbryan

this is not trimming, this is beheading!  i reckon that the trees involved won't survive.  this is no difference than felling.  yes the bugs could be a problem to the farmers and the crop, but it's also food source of aboreal birds i think.  many of the trees on the bund are fruit trees as well.  it could be good news for waders lovers but it's ruining the habitat of other species.

anyway thanks for vicky's effort and hope you can persuade them not to do that again.

tbob

More shots taken at the affected pond
22nd October 2008








[ Last edited by tbob at 17/11/2008 05:48 ]

ajohn

These are privately owned fruit trees adjacent to somebodies house. The owners are free to manage the trees as they choose (to reduce an insect pest, increase fruit yield, or even because they do not want the trees).

The trees at Long Valley do not provide important habitat for any bird species. As Ho-fai mentions, trimming these trees actually opens the habitat which makes it more attractive to open-country and wetland bird species, for which Long Valley is important. Furthermore, the trees have only been trimmed - they will regrow from the bases, probably with stronger new growth. This is common practice for management of fruit trees (in english it is known as pollarding, or coppicing if the cuts are at ground level).

I really cannot believe that members of the society are so upset by the trimming of four trees at Long Valley while there has been no response to the thread regarding the (illegal) destruction of the Kam Tin Buffalo Fields, with potentially severe impacts to the HK population of Grey-headed Lapwing, Painted snipe, etc
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/view ... 6488&highlight=

cbryan

It is true that the lot owner have the right to manage their trees.  But pollarding and coppicing, not to mention proper pruning, are practices seldomly seen in Hong Kong.  I really hope they know what they're doing but not just chopping the trees down for convenience sake.