BirdLife IBA Factsheet

Country/Territory

Hong Kong (China)

Administrative region(s)

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Central coordinates

22^o 29' North 114^o 2' East Map

Area

3150 ha

Altitude

0 - 10m

Criteria

A1, A4i, A4iii

Site description Shenzhen River catchment and Inner Deep Bay is an estuarine area comprising a variety of habitats, including freshwater wetland, marine-coastal (intertidal mudflats and mangroves) and man-made (aquaculture fish ponds, tidal shrimp ponds (gei wai) and oyster farms) habitats. The freshwater wetlands are situated at Mai Po and at a flood plain area at the southern side of Shenzhen River namely Long Valley, this is an area of actively managed agricultural land. The mudflats of inner Deep Bay are situated across the Shenzhen River, from Mai Po/Tsim Bei Tsui peninsula of Hong Kong side to Fu Tian of Shenzhen side. A thick belt of coastal mangroves encloses these sites. The inland area consists mainly of farmland, fishponds and tidal shrimp ponds. Surrounding and among these are construction sites, residential area and industrial area. On 4 September 1995, a 1,500 ha of wetlands on the Hong Kong side of the estuary area (Inner Deep Bay) was declared a Ramsar Site, including Mai Po Nature Reserve.Shenzhen River catchement and Inner Deep Bay lies in the northwestern part of the New Territories of Hong Kong. The names of the area includes (1) agricultural lands at Long Valley; (2) fishponds at Ma Tso Lung, Lok Ma Chau, San Tin, Lin Barn Tsuen, Mai Po, Pak Hok Chau, Lut Chau, Tai Sang Wai, Nam Sang Wai, Tin Shui Wai and Tsim Bei Tsui; (3) Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve; (4) Inner Deep Bay mangroves and inter-tidal mudflat; and (5) mudflat and oyster farm at Sheung Pak Lai

Birds A. Other globally threaten species in Inner Deep Bay area:Baikal Teal Anas formosaStable winter visitor, with 1-2 records every year. The high count is 3 birds in 1986 and 1993 (HKBWS 1961-1996).Bear's Pochard Aythya baeriUsually less than 10 were recordedbefore the early 1990s, with a high count of 30 birds on 10 January 1987. However, the number has declined in recent years, with only one or two every year (HKBWS 1972-1997). The recent were high count is of 2 individuals in January 1999 (HKBWS 1999).Relict Gull Larus relictusVagrant with two records involving 3 birds. 31 December 1987 and 1 January 1988 (HKBWS 1988); and 21 November 1992 to 8 March 1993 (HKBWS 1993).B. Other regionally important species in Inner Deep Bay areaChinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchusDuring the 1990s, the average peak winter period count was 327. This suggests that Deep Bay might hold 1% of the regional east/southeast Asian wintering population, which is estimated to be 25,000 to one million by Rose and Scott (1997) (Carey and Young 1999).Little Egret Egretta garzettaDuring the 1990s, there was an average peak winter count of 1478 in the Deep Bay area. Deep Bay may hold 1% of the regional east/southeast Asian wintering population which is estimated by Rose and Scott (1997) to be 100,000 to one million (Carey and Young 1999). Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelopeWith a five-year mean of peak winter counts of 2420 birds in Deep Bay during the period 1993-94 to 1997-98 (Carey and Young 1999), Deep Bay may hold 0.32% of the regional population, estimated by Miyabayashi and Mundkur (1999) to lie in the range 500,000 to 1,000,000.Northern Pintail Anas acutaThe five-year mean of peak winter counts in Deep Bay during the period 1993-94 to 1997-98 is 6562 (Carey and Young 1999). This is possibly 1% of the Eastern / Southeastern Asia wintering population, estimated by Miyabayashi and Mundkur (1999) to lie between 500,000 to 1,000,000.Common Teal Anas creccaWith a five-year mean of peak winter counts of 4005 birds in Deep Bay during the period 1993-94 to 1997-98 (Carey and Young 1999), Deep Bay may holds 0.4% to 0.8% of the Eastern / Southeastern Asia population, estimated by Miyabayashi and Mundkur (1999) to lie in the range 600,000 to 1,000,000.Eurasian Coot Fulica atraAt a mean peak count for the 1990s of 1620 birds, Deep Bay may hold 1% or more of the regional east/southeast Asian wintering population, estimated by Rose and Scott (1997) to lie between 100,000 and over one million (Carey and Young 1999).Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquataWith five-year mean peak winter count of 800 in the Deep Bay area during the period 1992-93 to 1996-97, the area regularly supports a minimum of 0.8% - 8% of the flyway population, estimated by Rose and Scott (1997) to lie in the range 10-100,000. (Carey and Young 1999).Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropusA conservative estimate of birds utilising the Deep Bay area during a typical year is 3500 birds (Carey and Young 1999). Rose and Scott (1997) estimate that the east/southeast Asian wintering population range is 10-25,000, however, this appears too low and even if the figure is increased by one class to 25-100,000, the area still supports a minimum of 3.5% of the flyway population (Carey and Young 1999).C. Globally threatened species recorded at Sheung Pak NaiSheung Pak Lai is part of the Deep Bay areas lying in the outer part of the bay, and is composed mainly of oyster farms, mudflats and mangrove areas. This is an important feeding area for waterbirds, including the globally threatened Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor and the regionally important Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo. 63 individuals were recorded in 29 November 1999 feeding on the mudflat behind oyster farm (Y. T. Yu pers. obs.). This is a regular feeding ground of Black-faced Spoonbill and Great Cormorants, over 2000 Great Cormorant were recorded feeding regularly in January 1999 (Y. T. Yu pers. comm.). Other globally threaten species that have been recorded include Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca, Red-billed Starling Sturnus sinensis and Black Vulture Aegypius monachus.D. Species recorded in Shenzhen River catchment area:Long Valley is an agricultural area located at the eastern side of the proposed IBA. More than 210 bird species have recorded there since 1993, nearly half the Hong Kong list. Three of the species are 'Vulnerable' and eight are 'Near-threatened' as listed in Collar et.al (1994). Of the rest, four are regionally important, three have very restricted range in Hong Kong (such as Painted Snipe), three are rapidly declining, and eight have locally significant populations at Long Valley (including several Snipe species).(1)Globally threatened species: Vulnerable: Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca Japanese Yellow Bunting Emberiza sulphurate Near-threatened: Schrenck's Bittern Ixobrychus eurhythmus Black Vulture Aegypius monachus Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus Asiatic Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus Japanese Waxwing Bombycilla japonica Red-billed Starling Sturnus sericeus Chestnut-cheeked Starling Sturnus philippensis(2)Regionally important species with reference to Rose and Scott (1997): Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus Little Egret Egretta garzetta Common Teal Anas crecca Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (see also 23-32)E. Other information outside the proposed IBA:Tidal mudflats adjacent to Taipa-Coloane Causeway in Macau: In January 1999 12 Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) and 1 European Spoonbill were at the tidal marsh area adjacent to the Taipa-Coloane Causeway in Macau (Aston 1999 in litt. To M. Felley). In addition up to 22 Black-faced Spoonbills were present in Macau during the 1996/97 winter period (Christern Bohmer and Paul Aston pers. comm.). It is possible that these involve local movement by Deep Bay birds feeding widely over the Pearl River estuary in response to food availability (Leader 1998). However, a site visit to the area was made on 12 September 1999. It has been totally encircled, with active reclamation undergoing. It is believed that there will be further construction in the area and the site will eventually be destroyed (C. Ma pers. obs.).

Protection status 1. Mai Po Marshes Wildlife Education Centre and Nature Reserve Mai Po Marshes is part of the largest estuarine wetland and the only remaining significant piece of such habitats in Hong Kong. About 70% of the area of the marshes consist of tidal shrimp ponds (gei wai), each on average being 10 hectares in area. The other 30% of the area is mangrove. Since 15 September 1976, Mai Po Marshes was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance. Listing of an area as a SSSI did not confer any legal protection but its values would be considered in Government planning. The Mai Po Marshes (Register of SSSI, Planning Department, HKSAR Government 1993) are the only area in Hong Kong where large numbers of duck, shore and marsh birds can regularly been seen, and as such have a very considerable scientific and educational potential. The marshes contain the largest and most important area of dwarf mangrove in Hong Kong. This highly productive community and the related artificial Gei wais provide a rich food source for both resident and migratory birds, as well as nesting habitats for a number of species. Since 1981, the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap. 170, was amended so that all hunting of wild birds became totally prohibited in Hong Kong. World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong (WWFHK) initiated its Mai Po Marshes project in 1983. In 1984, WWFHK began active management of Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve for education and conservation of wildlife. In 1995, the wetland around Mai Po Marshes and Inner Deep Bay (1,500 ha) was formally designated as a Ramsar Site, under the Convention of Wetlands of International Importance. Inner Deep Bay was declared a restricted area in February 1996.2. Mai Po Village The Mai Po Village declared as SSSI because of the presence of a egretry (Register of SSSI, Planning Department, HKSAR Government 1993).3 Pak Lai Of ornithological interest. Area consists of sandspit which is used as a high tide roost site for gulls and herons in the Deep Bay area and is the only such site in Hong Kong. (Register of SSSI, Planning Department, HKSAR Government 1993). However, this area is no longer a egretry now (Young pers. comm.)4. Tsim Bei Tsui A mature mangrove community with rare species Bruguiera conjugata and the only habitat for snail Ellobium polita (Register of SSSI, Planning Department, HKSAR Government 1993).5. Inner Deep Bay The largest and most important mudflats for mangroves and feeding site for migratory birds (Register of SSSI, Planning Department, HKSAR Government 1993).6. Tsim Bei Tsui Egretry The egretry is important in Hong Kong as the nesting and breeding place for several hundred pairs of egrets and herons. (Register of SSSI, Planning Department, HKSAR Government 1993). Tsim Bei Tsui used to hold more than one egretry in or before 1995. However, it is now is no longer used as an egretry (Young & Cha 1995),

Conservation issues 1.Developmental pressure and habitat destruction (urbanization of the surrounding agriculture and fish culture sites) around inner Deep Bay Area are important threats. 2.The filling of fishponds for residential and other developments continued between 1985 and 1994, when the coverage dropped from over 2000 ha to 1500 ha, a 25%ecrease over 10 years (Aspinwall Clouston & Wetlands International - Asia Pacific 1997).3.Flood control and drainage channel construction project may alter drainage patterns, e.g. drainage channel construction at San Tin may cause the loss of wetland habitats and disturbance to birds. 4.Water pollution by effluent discharges such as human sewage, heavy metals, agricultural and industrial pollutants are also an important threat, especially in the Deep Bay area where there is severe eutrophication caused by various pollutants from both Hong Kong and mainland China. 5.Disturbance caused by activities of illegal cross-border muskipper collectors on the mudflat of Inner Deep Bay. In addition, illegal netting, trapping and shooting of birds during spring and autumn migration and throughout the winter, mainly by people from Mainland China occurs. Sporadic hunting led to the shooting of a single White Spoonbill in 1996, which, if unchecked may result in Black-faced Spoonbill casualties. 6.Various developments have caused a decline in the existing agricultural area and have influenced species dependent on the diversity of microhabitats. In plans published by the Hong Kong SAR Government in connection with the Planning and Development Study on North East New Territories, it is planned to construct a highway and railway through Long Valley which will fragmented this last remaining sizable piece of intact freshwater wetland in the Shenzhen River catchment.

Recommended Citation BirdLife International (2009) Important Bird Area factsheet: Inner Deep Bay and Shenzhen River catchment area, Hong Kong (China). Downloaded from the Data Zone at http://www.birdlife.org on 30/7/2010