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        Discussion Area °Q½×°Ï >> General ¤@¯ë°ÝÃD >>  Dates to See High Bird Numbers at MPNR ¦Ì®H°ò³ò±Æ¤ô®É¶¡ªí
        
(Message started by: Bena on Oct 1^st, 2005, 1:08pm)

Title: Dates to See High Bird Numbers at MPNR ¦Ì®H°ò³ò±Æ¤ô®É¶¡ªí
Post by Bena on Oct 1^st, 2005, 1:08pm

WWF Hong Kong Mai Po Office Message

Over the coming months, WWF Hong Kong will be draining down several of the gei wai inside Mai Po Nature Reserve. First and foremost this is done for the benefit of waterbirds who congregate at the gei wai as the waterlevel is gradually lowered. In particular Egrets, Herons and Black-faced Spoonbills because their principle food items (mainly fish, shrimp and larvae) are exposed and become concentrated into smaller and smaller areas of water. Past observations show that day numbers can reach in excess of 1200 birds and last year 304 Black-faced Spoonbills were recorded during the drain down of gei wai 13.

Below is a list of the drain down dates until the end of 2005:

3-4 Oct Gei Wai 13
17-18 Oct Gei Wai 14
1-2 Nov Gei Wai 12
15-16 Nov Gei Wai 11
1-2 Dec Gei Wai 19
15-16 Dec Gei Wai 10

This information is provided so that bird-watchers can plan their visit to Mai Po Nature Reserve to see (or photograph) the wildlife spectacles offered by this management.

Thank you.

Title: Re: Dates to See High Bird Numbers at MPNR ¦Ì®H°ò³
Post by Bob Thompson on Oct 10^th, 2005, 6:31am

Bena,

Thanks for drain down information.

When did they drain down Pond 13 last year ?, as the high number of birds that you mentioned in your posting were not present this year, at least not on the 8th and 9th October

Title: Re: Dates to See High Bird Numbers at MPNR ¦Ì®H°ò³
Post by Bena on Oct 10^th, 2005, 10:29am

Dear Bob,

I was fortunate enough to be undertaking a waterbird count at Mai Po on the morning of 5th October and recorded just under 500 herons, egrets and black-winged Stilts inside the gei wai. I know that bird numbers were much lower either side of this day, so by the time of your visit on Saturday and Sunday the optimum conditions had passed because all of the available food had been taken.

Bird studies from previous years show that the highest numbers are seen several days (usually 3) after draining commences so I recommend coming earlier than your previous visit (if possible). Also the total number of birds seen during each gei wai drain down should increase as more birds arrive for the winter period.

I hope this helps with your planning.

Regards,

Bena Smith
Reserve Officer
WWF Hong Kong

Title: Re: Dates to See High Bird Numbers at MPNR ¦Ì®H°ò?
Post by Bena on Oct 17^th, 2005, 12:57pm

A change has been made to the original gei wai draining schedule. The revised dates are:

03 Oct gei wai 13
24 Oct gei wai 14
08 Nov gei wai 12
22 Nov gei wai 11
08 Dec gei wai 19
22 Dec gei wai 10
10 Jan gei wai 8
22 Jan gei wai 22
19 Feb gei wai 23 and 18
05 Mar gei wai 7

WWF Hong Kong apologises if this has caused any inconvenience to you.