HKBWS BBS 香港觀鳥會新聞組


    
      
        HKBWS BBS 香 港 觀 鳥 會 新 聞 組
        (http://www.hkbws.org.hk/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl)
      

        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Conservation 自然保育 >>  Wishing they were Pelicans!
        
(Message started by: Owlet-nightjar on May 22^nd, 2003, 10:34pm)

Title: Wishing they were Pelicans!
Post by Owlet-nightjar on May 22^nd, 2003, 10:34pm

The following records have been reported to AFCD-Senior Wetland and Conversation Officer and cc HK Police Force.

Mar 30, 03 at around 10:00 (high tide 1.9m)
8 mudskippers collectors were seen (with photos taken).
May 1, 03 at around 14:00 (high tide 13:00 2.3m)
2 mudskippers collectors were seen.
May 13, 03 at 07:35 (high tide 08:36 2m)
5 mudskippers collectors were seen (with photos taken).
May 21, 03 at 08:40 (high tide 13:00 2.5m)
6 mudskippers collectors were seen (with photos taken).
May 22, 03 at 08:55 (high tide 14:02 2.3m)
5 mudskippers collectors were seen (with photos taken).
May 23, 03 at 09:20 (high tide 15:30 2.1m)
7 mudskippers collectors were seen (with photos taken).

Mar 30, 2003
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/conservation/maipofishman/fisherman2003033001.jpg
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/conservation/maipofishman/fisherman2003033002.jpg
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/conservation/maipofishman/fisherman2003033003.jpg
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/conservation/maipofishman/fisherman2003033004.jpg
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/conservation/maipofishman/fisherman2003033005.jpg
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/conservation/maipofishman/fisherman2003033006.jpg
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/conservation/maipofishman/fisherman2003033007.jpg
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/conservation/maipofishman/fisherman2003033008.jpg

May 13, 2003
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/conservation/maipofishman/fisherman2003051301.jpg

Title: Re: Wishing they were Pelicans!
Post by 鳥友Ａ on May 22^nd, 2003, 11:55pm

To give us some idea about how serious the problem is,  could you tell us how often did you visit the broadwalk at Mai Po in May?

Did you find these oversized waders (or raiders) every time you went there?  4 times in 22 days is already too much!

Title: Re: Wishing they were Pelicans!
Post by Owlet-nightjar on May 23^rd, 2003, 11:25pm

You are right, they are oversized waders, as they follow the tides.
The reason for seeing them in the Ramsar site this month (or any month),
especially the past few days. It because the tides have been very high.
They are out there everyday, it is their workplace.

------------------------------------------------------

Without a systemic assessment about their activities,
I shouldn't have jumped into a conclusion about in what tide
situations they are on the mudflat. There are many factors to
consider concerning their activities in the Ramsar site.

The reason I made the original posting was to record their presence
and to request the authorities to try to do something about it.
Now that most of the migrants have gone, the AFCD and/or the
Police don't need to worry so much about causing further
disturbances to the birds if and when they try to catch the
mudskipper collectors.

Upto May 23, 2003, 5 out 6 times visit of Boardwalk.

Title: Re: Wishing they were Pelicans!
Post by 鳥友Ａ on May 24^th, 2003, 10:57am

Thanks Owlet-nightjar!

If the AFCD / Police / WWF accept that this is normal activity, perhaps WWF should update the field guides posted at the bird hides. They should include Mudskipper Collector (Homo exactor) as a resident wader in Mai Po.

Keep posting reports and photos here - they will serve as useful field notes!

>:(

Title: Reply from AFCD
Post by Owlet-nightjar on May 26^th, 2003, 10:35pm

Here is a reply message from AFCD, contents are self-explanatory.

The beginning of the reply message
From: cl_wong@afcd.gov.hk
Date: Sat, 24 May 2003 13:07:16 +0800
To: <xxxxx@netvigator.com>
Cc: xxxx@afcd.gov.hk,
"HKBWS Mr Mike Kilburn, Conservation Committee Chairman" <xxxxxx@hkstar.com>,
dvc lmcdiv <xxxxx-xxxxx@police.gov.hk>......

Subject:  Disturbances of Ramsar Wetland by Mudskippers collectors.

Dear xxx,

Thank you for your email to Mr. JK Chan who asked me to give you a reply. As I have told the Mai Po Management and Planning Committee held on 12/5/03 at WWF (Mr. Mike Kilburn, vice Chairman of HKBWS was in the meeting) that this Department takes a very serious view on  cases of illegal cross border fishermen working on mudflat at Deep Bay within the Hong Kong boundary. I also told the committee that our Nature Wardens had seized over 3600m of fishnet and over 700 bamboo traps since the Easter Holiday and would continue to remove all illegal traps on the mudflat.

In view of their increasing working frequency on mudflat, we have urgently set up new arrangements as follows :

1. A "daily patrol team" at the mudflat has been formed to protect the listed wild animals in Schedule under the "Wild Animals Protection Ordinance" (WAPO) and to check illegal entry to the Nature Reserve Restricted Area.

2. As they are all illegal cross border people from Shenzhen, we will report every sighting of these people to the Lok Ma Chau Police and the Marine Police and request the Police to take action against such illegal entry to Hong Kong, which is a Security issue.

3. Setting up connections with officials at Shenzhen Futien Nature Reserve and requesting the Shenzhen authority to take a serious view on such illegal cross border activities.

I would appreciate if you would forward your record of sighting of cross border fishermen at Mai Po Mudflat to me so that prompt enforcement action can be taken. Basically, as a part of our duty, our Nature Wardens report and keep records of sighting of illegal cross border fishermen, too. You may also wish to know that only the Restricted Area scheduled under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance stops any person (without a permit) from entering but not the whole Ramsar Site.

........In view of this, I would be much grateful if you would kindly take every opportunity to explain to all your members that we would take all necessary steps to minimize disturbing wildlife on the mudflat during enforcement operations and hope that bird watchers will support staff of AFCD and the Police to fight against such illegal activities especially in the coming few months which is the low season of migratory birds.

Regards

C. L. Wong
AFCD
End of the reply message

Title: Re: Wishing they were Pelicans!
Post by Alex_Tung on May 27^th, 2003, 12:22am

Hi all Mai Po lovers,

Glad to know AFCD is taking corresponding actions to deal with the new species of Pelican.

Everybody would agree that solving the "Pelican" problem is a never easy job. And it is not realistic to expect the "Pelicans" will disappear in recent future Mr. Owlet-nightjar. Appropriate actions should not be taken in rush but step by step.

According to the reply of Mr.Wong C.L., AFCD representative, I think AFCD is now on the right track.

But one thing we all should bare in mind that AFCD is not the only party to deal with the problem. AFCD, Police, HKBWS members, WWF and all the Mai Po lovers should work in a harmony and fight against the "Pelicans" together.

We now see our government is taking actions to save OUR Mai Po. We are all on the same side, shall we stop blaming but giving support to them? :)

Title: Requesting Shenzhen authority to take serious ....
Post by Earlybird on May 27^th, 2003, 9:26am

on 05/26/03 at 22:35:42, Owlet-nightjar wrote:

Here is a reply message from AFCD, contents are self-explanatory.
....
3. Setting up connections with officials at Shenzhen Futien Nature Reserve and requesting the Shenzhen
authority to take a serious view on such illegal cross border activities.
........In view of this, I would be much grateful if you would kindly take every opportunity to explain
to all your members....

"Requesting the Shenzhen authority to take a serious view on such illegal cross border activities......."
I really don't understand?! ??? Does Shenzhen Government never think this is a serious problem?! and had the HK Government never told them this was a serious problem before?! Please also request Shenzhen authority taking a serious view on disturbance to the whole Ramsar Site.

"...setting up connection..." I also want to know whether there is any progress? Was it already mentioned for over half a year or maybe longer? Any action has already been taken or yet? What is the time frame to set up the connection? Who will take the lead, the AFCD, the Police, the Bureau Secretary or our Mr. TUNG? Can we have more detail to understand the existing and future situation?

Title: Re: Wishing they were Pelicans!
Post by 鳥友Ａ on Jul 14^th, 2003, 11:39pm

從今天的無線新聞報導，各位可以看到當局如何用直升機捕捉花魚佬：

See how illegal fishermen at Mai Po are chased and caught using helicopters:

“米埔濕地是香港的自然保護區居住了很多珍貴的動物。不過近年有非法入境者在米埔捕魚，影響生態環境。”

http://news.tvb.com/630pm/2003/0714/index_2.html

Title: Re: Wishing they were Pelicans!
Post by Project Officer on Jul 15^th, 2003, 12:00pm

Two more pieces of news report today on illegal fishermen

Mng Pao Daily:
8內地人潛米埔偷獵被捕
http://full.mingpaonews.com/20030715/gsc1r.htm

South China Morning Post:
Choppers sink Mai Po poachers
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/fileServer/Projectofficer/scmp15072003.jpg

Title: Re: Wishing they were Pelicans!
Post by Webcreeper on Mar 22^nd, 2004, 1:29pm

And last July as well! >:( >:(