4月14日，逾百人兵分兩路游走於塱原、米埔及九龍公園，參與香港觀鳥會舉辦的「觀鳥馬拉松2019」，這個共七小時的輕盈版觀鳥比賽，共有109位朋友分別參加「體驗賽」與「親子賽」，大部份都是首次嘗試觀鳥比賽的滋味，不但活動新鮮，更從未如此觀看美麗的雀鳥，驚訝原來身邊有這麼多種類的雀鳥，過去從不知道

   

「親子賽」十二隊一起尋鳥蹤，大部份都是父母帶著小朋友參與，他們認為這是一項很有意義的親子活動。而特別的一組就是一位爸爸聯同四位小男孩一起參與，看上去就如彩鷸爸爸帶小孩。方先生表示今次與兒子及其同學一起參賽，希望透過「觀鳥馬拉松」訓練他們的合作性，更給自己一個鍛練體能的機會，因為帶著四位男孩確需要一定體力。

香港觀鳥會主席劉偉民在頒獎禮時表示，香港觀鳥會每年都會舉辦觀鳥比賽，而給新手可以參加的就是第一次，但他深信觀鳥這如此吸引的活動，應該更多人可以參與而不只是資深鳥友的專利。他補充說：「觀鳥應該人人都可以參與，拿著望遠鏡甚至空手都可以在市區觀鳥。」

體驗賽得出雙冠軍，分別由「塱原禾花雀」與由侯智恆博士所率領的「中華鳳頭燕鷗」兩隊錄得63種雀鳥奪得。贊助獎品的 Sony 立即義不容辭加碼，改為贊助雙份獎品 － HX-99 給雙冠軍隊伍。親子賽更厲害，「清敬樂」隊在短短7小時尋得81種鳥類。

在此感謝每一位參與及贊助觀鳥馬拉松的朋友，並要感謝各嘉賓領隊，分別有高永文醫生、林超英先生、黃金寶先生、陳少珊小姐、侯智恆博士、戴健文先生、梁家永先生、劉晉先生。特別感謝是 Sony的贊助讓我們成功舉辦新手觀鳥比賽、 East Asian - Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) 的全力支持更由韓國特別來參賽、漁農自然護理署及WWF米埔的安排、TEE 插畫設計 Carmen NG，還有獎品贊助 ZEISS Group 、 BRITA Hong Kong 、 煤氣公司 Towngas 、Minox 與雀躍坊，讓參與的朋友更高興。希望各參賽朋友延續尋鳥的熱情，感染更多朋友關注身邊的雀鳥。明年見！

請大家繼續支持參賽隊伍：http://bit.ly/supportbwm

Bird Watching Marathon 2019- Newbie Delight and Family Tournament were held on 14 April 2019, it was the first ever Bird race for beginner bird watchers, in partnership with the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership and main sponsor SONY Hong Kong.

Over 100 beginner bird watchers joined the Bird Watching Marathon, there were 12 teams from Family Tournament and 14 teams of Newbie Delight Tournament. And it was their first ever bird watching competition for most of them. They went to Long Valley, Mai Po and Kowloon Park in searching for birds within 7 hours.

Apache Lau, the chairperson of HKBWS shared at the prize giving ceremony that it was kind of risky in organizing Bird race for beginners as there are many supports and costs for a beginner to take part in bird watching contest, he added “We believe Bird Race should be an excellent activity that everybody could join and enjoy, and this is the main reason for us to organize Bird race for beginners. We wish everybody was benefited to the pleasurement it brought”

Congratulations to the champions, they are “Chinese Crested Tern Team” and “Long Valley YBB Team” both of them recorded 63 species of birds. Champion of Family Tournament goes to “DKnKids Teams”, they have recorded 81 species of birds in just hours. Every champion were given a HX-99 Sony camera.

A BIG thank everyone who participated, and sponsored the Bird Watching Marathon, VIP captains, they are Dr Ko Wing Man, Mr CY Lam, Mr Wong Kam Po, Ms Maria Chan, Dr Billy Hau, Mr Tai Keen Man, Mr Leung Ka Wing and Mr Lau Chun. Special thanks to all prizes sponsor, they are Zeiss, Brita Hong Kong, Towngas and Minox.