香港觀鳥會亞洲自然保育基金2019/20年度受資助的項目「尼泊爾辛杜帕爾喬克縣 – 白頸鸛巢研究及保育計劃」已於2021年10月完成。白頸鸛是屬於鸛科的大型鳥類，其體長接近一米，亦是主要分佈在南亞地區的“近危”物種。白頸鸛現時正面臨不少威脅，包括過度捕獵、築巢樹木減少及因城市發展而失去棲地。過往對於白頸鸛巢的研究有限，而且只集中在尼泊爾西部，針對國內其他地區的相關研究則相對匱乏。因此，香港觀鳥會亞洲自然保育基金支持Pokhara Bird Society (PBS)在尼泊爾中部辛杜帕爾喬克縣收集白頸鸛巢相關數據及推廣保育，冀加深當地民眾對鳥類保育的認識，為日後展開白頸鸛保育工作鋪路。
PBS團隊一共找到5個白頸鸛巢，更在其中4個正在使用的巢中發現合共7隻幼鳥，這是Sipaghat至Melamchi地區的全新發現。教人遺憾的是當時研究地點發生嚴重水災，洪水影響了後續觀察，致使計劃被迫腰斬。除研究工作外，PBS爲了提高公衆的保育意識，在當地設置白頸鸛保育資訊告示板、派發海報及小冊子，更逐家逐戶拜訪居民，重點推廣白頸鸛保育。此外，團隊又在社區及學校籌辦多場鳥類辨識及保育活動，例如在辛杜帕爾喬克縣6個地點為居民提供鳥類辨識培訓，以及在12所學校為接近400名學生舉辦白頸鸛保育講座。
是次研究揭示辛杜帕爾喬克縣為白頸鸛相當重要的棲息及繁殖地，亦為白頸鸛研究及保育工作提供寶貴數據。香港觀鳥會感謝PBS團隊在疫情及惡劣天氣環境影響下仍能完成項目，為保育白頸鸛作出彌足珍貴的貢獻。若各位希望支持及了解更多「香港觀鳥會亞洲自然保育基金」的工作，歡迎瀏覽https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/acf 。
*香港觀鳥會在2019年把「中國自然保育基金」擴展為「亞洲自然保育基金」。
With the support of ACF 2019/20, one of the funded projects “Exploring nesting sites and conservation of Asian Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) in Sindhupalchok district, Nepal” was completed in October 2021. Asian Woolly-necked Stork is a large wading bird with almost one-meter body length under the family Ciconiidae. It is a “Near-threatened” species distributed in South Asia. Sadly, disturbance, removal of nesting trees and hunting activities have been exacerbating the survival of the Asian Woolly-necked Stork. There were limited studies on nests of Asian Woolly-necked Stork and existing studies covered only western Nepal. Hence, HKBWS Asia Conservation Fund sponsored the Pokhara Bird Society (PBS) to implement a research and conservation project in the Sindhupalchok district of central Nepal, aiming at exploring nesting sites of Asian Woolly-necked Stork and enhancing community capacity for avian conservation.
PBS surveying team identified five Asian Woolly-necked Stork nests while four nests were in use and one was inactive respectively. The sighting of these nests was completely new in Sipaghat to Melamchi area and a total of seven chicks was found in the mentioned four active nests. Regrettably, post-hatching observation was heavily disturbed by the devastating flood in the study area and had to be terminated. Apart from the research project, PBS also organized a great variety of educational activities. The team designed and set up hoarding boards about Asian Woolly-necked Stork conservation, and distributed posters and pamphlets to local people through household visits. Community awareness programs were also conducted, including bird identification and conservation training for local youth at six sites and talk tours for around 400 students at 12 local schools in Sindhupalchok.
Asian Woolly-necked Stork conservation is in good progress as Sindhupalchok has been proven to be a great habitat for the species. We sincerely appreciate the conservation work of PBS under the interruption of COVID-19 and extreme weather conditions. If you wish to learn more about “HKBWS Asia Conservation Fund” and support us, please visit https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/acf.
Remarks: HKBWS transformed the “China Conservation Fund” into “HKBWS Asia Conservation Fund” in 2019.
尼泊爾辛杜帕爾喬克縣的白頸鸛巢位置及分布 Map of Sindhupalchok with transects, nesting location and distribution
一對白頸鸛正在樹上築巢 A nesting pair of Asian Woolly-necked Stork was working for nest maintenance
在白頸鸛巢附近豎立告示板 Hoarding board was set near the active nesting sites of Asian Woolly-necked Stork
在辛杜帕爾喬克縣水土資源管理署召開白頸鸛保育會議 Conservation discussion held at Sindhupalchowk Soil and Watershed Management Office
向當地居民派發小冊子 Pamphlets were distributed to local people
為12所學校，約400名學生提供雀鳥辨識培訓及鳥類保育課程 Bird identification & conservation program was held for 400 students at 12 local schools
為12所學校，約400名學生提供雀鳥辨識培訓及鳥類保育課程 Bird identification & conservation program was held for about 400 students at 12 local schools
