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Topic: Cars inside Mai Po 持汽車通行證者非為鳥類普查請勿駕車進入米埔 (Read 2851 times) |
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cywong
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I am fascinated by birds!
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Re: Cars inside Mai Po 持汽車通行證者非為鳥類普查
« Reply #15 on: May 1st, 2006, 10:32pm » |
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on May 1st, 2006, 9:53pm, Bob Thompson wrote:Thanks Lew, can I have a chauffeur driven bike
Bob |
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I favour this suggestion. Mai Po is one of my favourite birdwatching place but I am afraid of driving any vehicles including bicycles.
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Thank you for sharing the joy of bird-watching.
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Fred
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Birds are fascinating!
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Re: Cars inside Mai Po 持汽車通行證者非為鳥類普查
« Reply #16 on: May 2nd, 2006, 12:07am » |
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Let us compromise - an electric operated bike 
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| « Last Edit: May 2nd, 2006, 12:08am by Fred » |
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KK Hui
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Re: Cars inside Mai Po 持汽車通行證者非為鳥類普查
« Reply #17 on: May 2nd, 2006, 8:23am » |
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Bicycles or electrical '4-wheel cycles' as suggested is not an efficient transporting means especially when there are more than one person who wants to use it. How many of these would you allowed into the Reserve at any one time then? I'm sure it would cause even more 'disturbance' along the FCA road as originally alleged with cars.
I could have bought a good brand new folded-bicycle myself for under $600- and be independent! But I give up that idea since it's not practical when one is carrying heavy gear at the same time. There is risk riding along some of the narrow foot paths in the Reserve where there is fish ponds along the sides and there has been known incident where people riding on a bike falls into it too!
Of course there is the setting up cost, on-going maintenance, driver etc. for the propsed electric shuttle. But it is a fee paying one for anyone wants to use the service. The setup would perhaps have to come from a fund raising exercise organized by WWFHK. The fare have to be calculated on the actual running cost amongst others factors such as traffic etc. and any subsidy that is available from other source(s). I think a fee of $10 to $20 dollars per trip would be a reasonable charge to begin with. Remember we're not asking for the service to be a 24 hrs/7 days one.
KK Hui FRPS
www.geocities.com/kkhui_001
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| « Last Edit: May 2nd, 2006, 10:37am by KK Hui » |
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Michael_Leven
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Re: Cars inside Mai Po 持汽車通行證者非為鳥類普查
« Reply #18 on: May 2nd, 2006, 12:29pm » |
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Dear All
I am afraid that I think that this discussion of electrically operated bikes etc is missing the point.
In my opinion the key point is the issue raised by Mike Turnbull i.e. to what extent is there a real problem of disturbance to birds caused by birdwatchers' vehicles. I am not convinced - in my opinion birds are much more sensitive to disturbance by people on foot and I think that any photographer who has tried using their car as a mobile hide will back me up.
Personally, I was very disappointed when WWF advised me that they would not renew my vehicle permit. The times when I use my own vehicle on the reserve have generally included
- getting to bird ringing sites (very early in the morning for passerine ringing and at night for wader ringing)
- getting to the boardwalk in order to carry out counts
- driving to the south end of the reserve (Ponds 20 and 23-24) usually in late afternoon during the week when the reserve is deserted!
Though I consider that the latter use does not cause any disturbance to birds or birdwatchers I would have been prepared to volunteer to stop doing this and restrict the use of my vehicle to the first two categories. However, this suggested compromise was not accepted by WWF.
I think that it is likely that there will be occasions in the future when I will have to decline participation in ringing or HKBWS counts because of the restriction - not out of contrariness but because there will be times when the extra time involved (for example cycling out to the Scrape at 8 pm) will be too great.
Mike Leven
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Captain
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Re: Cars inside Mai Po 持汽車通行證者非為鳥類普查
« Reply #19 on: May 2nd, 2006, 1:45pm » |
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How about asking HKBWS directly apply vehicular FCA permits for ringers and waterfowl surveyors?
The current old practice is because there was no office staff in the HKBWS at that time. So, WWF helps to apply permits for the members of HKBWS.
Now we have office staff and a very clear justification (Waterfowl Count). So, perhaps it is time to rethink the whole FCA permit application process.
As far as I know from my working experience, any organization with justification (better with backup document from the govt, but not necessary) could apply
FCA permits. Approval or not is subject to the decision of the Police.
Captain
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Fred
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Re: Cars inside Mai Po 持汽車通行證者非為鳥類普查
« Reply #20 on: May 2nd, 2006, 3:32pm » |
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My suggestion of electric bikes is not meant for serious consideration (see my emotion icon). I do not think it is a viable option either. On the other hand, the most basic bike or tricycle is a more convenient and efficient way for birdwatchers or photographers with heavy gear.
I would also like to support the views forwarded by both Mikes. Credits must be given to volunteer workers whose personal interests should no doubt be in line with their volunteer work. It is not possible or at least artificial to distinguish a pure work related visit and a visit of mixed purposes. As long as there are clear criteria for the permits that apply to whoever has equivalent contribution, it has nothing to do with special privileges.
Personally I have not encountered any significant disturbance by vehicles inside the Reserve. I therefore believe the real cause of the complaint is differential treatment discussed above.
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Bob Thompson
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Re: Cars inside Mai Po 持汽車通行證者非為鳥類普查
« Reply #21 on: May 2nd, 2006, 5:23pm » |
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on May 2nd, 2006, 1:45pm, Captain wrote:How about asking HKBWS directly apply vehicular FCA permits for ringers and waterfowl surveyors?
The current old practice is because there was no office staff in the HKBWS at that time. So, WWF helps to apply permits for the members of HKBWS.
Now we have office staff and a very clear justification (Waterfowl Count). So, perhaps it is time to rethink the whole FCA permit application process.
As far as I know from my working experience, any organization with justification (better with backup document from the govt, but not necessary) could apply
FCA permits. Approval or not is subject to the decision of the Police.
Captain |
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Captain,
If an individual applies for a FCA, the Frontier Police at Fanling will ask the applicant to apply to WWF as they are the managers of the site. That what the police told me.
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felixcat
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watch birds and be watched ...
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Re: Cars inside Mai Po 持汽車通行證者非為鳥類普查
« Reply #22 on: May 2nd, 2006, 11:58pm » |
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on Apr 29th, 2006, 9:42pm, Lew_Young wrote:
Some months ago, a number of people mentioned that they were concerned about the number of cars driving along the FCA road and the disturbance that this causes to both the birds and visitors. Other people have asked why some cars can get permits to come into the reserve but they cannot get permits for their own cars.
As a result, WWF decided that in order to make it fair for everyone .... |
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Apart from Mr. Turnbull's point about the appeared distriburbance to birds, I am also not convinced that the fairness is made for avoiding from being asked why some cars can get permits and why some cannot. If it is the WWF's direction, I am afraid I have to give up my entry permit one day when someone asks why some people can freely get an entry permit from AFCD by just paying the membership fee to WWF and/or HKBWS.
I respect WWF and HKBWS's decision on who should be given the car permits because of thier own professional judgement but not avoidance of being challenged.
on Apr 29th, 2006, 9:42pm, Lew_Young wrote:
.... This is because a small number of these people with vehicle permits are driving their cars into Mai Po just so that they can take photographs or watch birds, rather than carry out formal work for the Society..
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And I hope it is NOT the intention to underrate any photography work inside the reserve.
Last but not least, as one of the regular visitors to MP, I of course concur any idea facilitating my photography work and, most importnatly, those who have difficulty in entering the reserve though I can still carry my heavy equipment on my foot.
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