You may be surprised to learn that more than 70% of the land in Hong Kong (total of approximately 1000km2) is rural mountains, forests and outlying islands. Over 40% of the area is protected Country Parks. Its sub-tropical climate also provides habitats to support many wildlife. The over 3000 types of plants provide plenty of food for approximately 50 species of mammals, 490 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles and 20 types of frogs, as well as 230 species of butterflies and 110 species of dragonflies.
Every winter and autumn between October and April, tens of thousands of migratory birds come for the warm climate in HK, including endangered species such as the Black-faced Spoonbill and Saunders' Gull. If you happen to be in HK Mai Po Nature Reserve during this period, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of thousands of waterbirds flying over the wetlands. If you are lucky, you will be able to watch over 30,000 migratory waterbirds feeding on the mutflats. No wonder HK's winter is regarded as birdwatchers' haven.
Because of its warm weather, numerous types of tree birds come from the North of Mainland China to spend the winter months in HK. Very often, you can see many colourful birds visiting city gardens and parks for food, not to mention the country parks. When it comes to spring and summer, beautiful and colourful insects such as butterflies, dragonflies and caterpillars can be found everywhere.
I am fortunate to have lived in Hong Kong for the past 10 years, and have encountered many fascinating stories of wildlife animals. In this Blog, I will present my photographs to share with you the wonderful stories of these creatures.
