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Project Update >Ad hoc Event |
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In early February 2010, pond draining abutting to the northern site boundary was carried out by the adjacent fish ponds owner for bund strengthening and reprofiling for the reprovision of pond bunds for normal fish pond operation. |
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This incidence attracted wetland bird species including the Black-faced Spoonbills (BFS) foraging at the partially drained ponds. In order to minimize the disturbance impact on the BFS during the preparation works for the establishment of site hoarding at the northern site boundary, the following protocol has been implemented in early February 2010 : |
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- During the drain down period, our Ecological Consultant (Asia Ecological Consultant (AEC)) will check the ponds at 07:30.
- If more than 10 BFS are present, no activities should be undertaken on-site within 150 m of the pond.
- AEC will then check the ponds at 10:00, if less than 10 birds are present activities within 150 m of the pond can restart.
- If more than 10 are present, checks will be made by AEC at two-hourly intervals until less than 10 birds are present at which time activities within 150 m of the pond can restart
- If more than ten BFS are present at 07:30, but activities within 150 m of the pond restart during the course of the day, all activities within 150 m of the pond should cease at 17:00
- Until AEC have confirmed with the Site Agent each day that less than 10 birds are present there should be no activity whatsoever within 150 m of the ponds.
- If at any time more than 10 BFS are noted when construction activities are on-going the contractor will suspend works within 150 m of the pond immediately and monitoring will be initiated according to items 3 and 4 of this protocol.
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This protocol is now being followed and is proving effective in minimizing disturbance to Black-faced Spoonbills in the area from the current activities on site. However, it has been noted during the monitoring that other sources of disturbance to birds are present in the area, specifically the routine activities of fish pond operators have resulted in disturbance to Black-faced Spoonbills. It is noted that numbers of Black-faced Spoonbills using the ponds remained low over the Chinese New Year holiday, which indicates that other factors beyond the current activities on site also influence the use of these ponds by Black-faced Spoonbills. A summary of the numbers of spoonbills recorded during the ad hoc |
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Date |
BFS Sightings in Adjacent Ponds |
10-2-2010 |
none |
11-2-2010 |
none |
12-2-2010 |
none |
13-2-2010 |
none |
15-2-2010 |
none |
16-2-2010 |
3 BFS at pond north of G1a |
17-2-2010 |
none |
18-2-2010 |
39 BFS at pond north of G1 (Pond 2) |
19-2-2010 |
23 in ponds to the west of Palm Springs |
21-2-2010 |
9 BFS at Pond G1b |
22-2-2010 |
none |
23-2-2010 |
10 BFS at Pond G1b |
24-2-2010 |
58 BFS at Pond G1b |
25-2-2010 |
25 BFS at Pond G1b |
26-2-2010 |
none |
27-2-2010 |
21 BFS at Pond H2 |
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We understand from the fish pond operators in ponds abutting to the Site that drain down of the remaining two ponds is expected in the very near future. Since Black-faced Spoonbills forage opportunistically in draining ponds, these two ponds may be temporarily attractive to the spoonbills. In view of this, a precautionary approach is considered and all bund re-provisioning and strengthening work is being stopped until the drain down of these ponds has been completed and the attraction to Black-faced Spoonbills has ceased. After which, the protocol described above will be resumed until the erection of the site hoarding and/or noise barrier along the northern side of the site, which is expected to screen out any disturbance impacts which might have on the birds. |
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