香港眾多鄉郊地區皆為觀鳥的好去處，經常吸引大批鳥友和攝影者前往。然而，由於大部分地方屬私人土地，除了緊守《觀鳥及鳥類攝影守則》外，亦應顧及鄉郊地區的特點，因此在鄉外及魚塘地區觀鳥時，請同時注意以下事項：
1. 尊重私人產業、居民習俗及傳統文化
✅鄉郊地區的土地很多都屬私人擁有，請尊重當地居民及其私人產業和財物，切勿破壞任何物件及農作物
✅如當地村民或農友提出要求，鳥友必須盡快離開，以免引起他們的不滿
✅祠堂、廟宇或墓地乃鄉郊地區的傳統文化及建築，請不要隨便進入及注意言行，更不要踐踏先人的墓地
✅避免進入村屋之間的小巷，以免打擾村民生活及引起懷疑
✅保持地方清潔，切勿吸煙或亂拋垃圾，自己垃圾請自己帶走
✅保持鄉郊的寧靜環境，切勿喧嘩
✅小心農地或魚塘狗隻，切勿強行通過有狗隻看守的道路，保障自身安全
2. 愛惜農作物
✅農田和魚塘是農夫和漁民為生的地方，請勿進入農地和魚塘中，更不要踐踏或破壞農作物
✅農田和魚塘四周及路旁也會種植農作物，因此走過鄉郊小路時敬請小心，以免踐踏路旁的農作物，更不要擅自採摘農作物或植物
✅如小路狹窄或有障礙物，請繞路而行，不要嘗試跨過，以免破壞農作物
✅即使農作物看似已經收割或魚塘已經曬乾，亦不應走進這些農田或魚塘中，以免阻礙農夫和漁民進行整地翻土等工作
✅部份稻田中間會有一些很窄的田埂，這是農友修築具特定用途的設施，不是供人使用或行走，請勿踐踏
✅不要隨便移動農夫和漁民的工具及設備，亦不應擅自將樹枝、石頭等東西放置在農田、田壆或塘壆上，以免影響耕作和漁業日常運作，甚至引起危險
3. 駕車及泊車
✅鄉郊地區的車路多為單線雙程行車，在狹窄路上行駛請互相禮讓及遷就
✅盡量使用停車場或設有咪表的泊車位，如沒有請盡量停泊於空曠地方或寬闊馬路的旁邊
✅留意泊車的位置會否阻礙其他車輛出入，甚至不自覺地佔用了村民的泊車位，因這些泊車位不一定很明顯
✅泊車後，請將聯絡電話張貼於擋風玻璃前或當眼處，以便緊急時聯絡車主
During birding seasons, birders and bird photographers may visit rural and fishpond area for birdwatching and taking photograph. However, as most rural areas are privately owned, please take extra cautions when visiting there. The below note is a supplement to our “Code of Conduct for Birdwatching and Bird Photography” for your action:
1. Respect private properties, local custom and traditional culture
✅Most of the lands in rural area are privately owned. Please respect local residents, their private properties and belongings. Do not damage any property and crops in the field.
✅If requested by villagers or farmers, birders should leave the area as soon as possible to avoid causing any discontentment.
✅Ancestral shrine, temple and cemetery are important elements of traditional culture and structure. Do not enter without permission. Behave decently and do not step on cemetery.
✅Do not enter alleyway between houses to minimize disturbance to daily life of the residents.
✅Keep the area clean. Do not smoke or litter. Take your litter home.
✅Keep quiet and avoid making noise.
✅Beware of dogs in farmlands and fishponds. For your own safety, do not across the road obstructed by dogs.
2. Protect crops in the field
✅Farmers and fishermen rely on farmlands and fishponds to make their living. Do not walk into farmlands and fishponds. Do not step on or damage crops. Do not take any crops without the owner’s permission.
✅Farmers and fishermen plant crops on bunds; so please be very careful when you walk around. Do not step on the crops.
✅Do not walk into farmlands and fishponds, and choose another one when the path is blocked. To avoid causing unnecessary lost, do not try to pass through the barrier.
✅Do not walk on those harvested farmlands or dried fishponds to avoid disturbance.
✅Do not walk on narrow bunds between farmlands since these bunds are made for special purposes and for farmers' use only.
✅Do not move or relocate farmer’s tools or belongings. Do not put any stuff, e.g. branch or stone, onto farmlands or bunds because it may obstruct cultivation activity and put farmers in danger.
3. Driving and parking
✅Roads in rural areas are usually narrow and single two way, please be patient and be considerate to oncoming cars on a narrow road.
✅Try to use public car parks or on-street parking with meters if possible; otherwise, try to park your car in open area or at broad roadside.
✅After parking the car, pay attention to whether the vehicle has obstructed the traffic or occupied residents’ parking spaces because parking spaces are not always noticeable in rural areas.
✅Place your contact number in front of the windscreen for emergency contact.
