In search of the Black-faced Spoonbill

We have been watching birds for well over 30 years –in fact that’s how we met. When we found out that we live close to a nature reserve here in the New Territories, we had to unpack those binoculars and find a way to get there. It’s not the easiest place to get to –Mai Po Nature Reserve, a wintering site for up to 100,000 migratory water birds each year. More than 350 bird species have been recorded here including the endangered black-faced spoonbill. A short train and taxi ride will get you there, but before that we had to write out an application to make the visit, which was basically a conducted tour. This was done mostly in Cantonese, with an English translation for our benefit.
The area is an estuary—there are mudflats, reedbeds, freshwater ponds. Fish and shrimp were also raised and harvested here. The environment is a magnet for the birds especially the gazillion cormorants that we saw perched on trees throughout the area. We saw the very, very lovely white throated kingfisher, bulbuls, hawks, all manner of herons and egrets. Some of the scenery reminded us so much of the Ding Darling Nature Reserve in Sanibel, Florida that we had actually visited only in December and where we saw the roseate spoonbill, a most gorgeous creature. But on this occasion, not one black-faced spoonbill did we spy. This was because we were not close enough to the mudflats, (extra special permit needed!) where a quarter of the world’s population of black-faced spoonbills hang out. So near, and yet so far……
As I’m writing this I hear an unfamiliar song from a bird singing outside my window. I don’t know what it is –but it is wonderful to be able to hear it. There is a street in Hong Kong where they sell nothing but caged songbirds. It’s a hobby in these parts to have special songbirds in fancy cages and to gather in groups to listen to their songs. On our “to see” list is the Yuen Po St. Bird Garden where bird enthusiasts can be seen feeding their pet songbirds grasshoppers and other tasty insect treats through the bars of the cages with chopsticks!
I’ve joined a women’s hiking group and went on a four-hour hike to Lantau Island today (Feb.10). We saw lovely coastal scenery, mountain roads, waterfalls, rural villages and a seaside resort. I don’t think I’ve walked so much in one day, in a very, very, long time. It was most exhilarating! and the company was very good. We’ve also joined a yoga class and hope to be fitter physically by the time we return. Bob is giving two talks this month, in addition to his teaching and research. Our trip to Beijing University has been finalized and we’ll be heading there April 21.
We keep up with news at home through various means – NPR, and other online news sites. For local and Asian/international news we turn to the South China Morning Post, which is a pretty decent newspaper. Hong Kong, by the way, has the fourth freest press in the Asia Pacific region after New Zealand, Australia, and Japan. Here are a few articles that caught my interest in the Morning Post—
“Should people with pre-existing illnesses be forced to pay higher premiums for private health insurance?” (Sound familiar? – Yes, Hong Kong is also facing this issue.)
“New bid to keep cats and dogs off the menu” – “In the south of China cats and dogs remain a culinary delicacy. Ten million dogs and four million cats are sold on the mainland for consumption every year, according to a survey in 2006 carried out by Animals Asia Foundation.”(Fortunately new draft animal rights legislation including a ban on the practice of selling and the eating of cats and dogs is before the legislature.)
Hong Kong is home to the richest group of people in Asia. A recent report said that HK’s rich are 65 percent wealthier than a year ago.
And finally, Beijing is training elite journalists to boost its media clout and to rival the likes of CNN and the BBC. A 24-hour news satellite network and a world service in various languages representing the Chinese viewpoint are due out in July.
Until the next time, Stay warm and stay well. Enjoy the accompanying very colorful spring festival photos that will hopefully banish the winter dreariness, if only for a while.
Naseem and Bob