Mai Po Wetlands

Bird lovers and people who enjoy walking the great outdoors should head for the Mai Po marshes in the north-western New Territories, the resting and feeding place for more than 300 species of migrating birds.

The Mai Po Wetlands, which include the marshes and the mudflats of Inner Deep Bay, have been listed as a Ramsar wetland since September 1995 and have a total area of about 1,500 hectares.

In view of its significance, the Hong Kong Government declared Mai Po a "Site of Special Scientific Interest" in 1976. To ensure that the area was managed properly, the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong (WWFHK) was entrusted with the responsibility in 1984 and currently manages the 380-hectare Mai Po Nature Reserve.

The best time for bird watching is in the spring and the autumn when more than 300 species of birds have been recorded in the area, many of them rarely seen anywhere outside the region. The migrant birds forage in the vicinity of Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Wetlands, feeding on fish, shrimps and crabs among the mangroves.

During the winter months, the wetland is home to some 20,000 to 30,000 migratory water birds, including the rare and endangered Black-faced Spoonbill. The area also houses such wildlife as otters, butterflies, leopard cats and other mammals.

Access to the wetlands is limited. Please call the World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong at +852 2471 3480 (Office Hour: Mon-Fri 9:00am – 5:00pm except public holidays) or visit www.wwf.org.hk for details.