Endangered black-faced spoonbill numbers dwindle again as wetland habitats in Hong Kong and Shenzhen degrade
Factors include continuous development and reclamation in Deep Bay area, decline in freshwater fish farming and rise in illegal traps
Degradation of wetland habitats in the ecologically sensitive Deep Bay area between Hong Kong and Shenzhen led to another decline in black-faced spoonbill numbers this wintering season, a conservation group said on Sunday.
Continuous development and reclamation works in the area and the decline of freshwater fish farming in both the northwestern New Territories and Shenzhen have shrunk the area of mudflats and fish ponds where the endangered migratory waterbirds roost and feed.
According to the 2018 International Black-faced Spoonbill Census, a total of 3,941 spoonbills were recorded between January 19 and 21, roughly similar to last year’s count.
Of this figure, 350 were recorded in Deep Bay, 25 birds – or 6.7 per cent – fewer than the 375 recorded last year, said the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, one of the census’ participating organisations.
“In 2010 there were more than 460 black-faced spoonbills, but that number has continued to drop and drop to this year’s 350. That’s more than a hundred fewer birds,” research manager Yu Yat-tung said.