A bird watcher spotted five people landing on an uninhabited island near Po Toi Island, a tern breeding site in southern Hong Kong waters, during mainland China’s Labour Day holiday. Green Hope Hong Kong warned that such disturbances could cause the birds to abandon their nests. The sighting occurred on the second day of the holiday.
A bird watcher saw five people on the uninhabited island unloading backpacks and other items on the second day of mainland China’s Labour Day “golden week” holiday, according to an online post by non-profit Green Hope Hong Kong. It was not immediately clear who they were.
“These birds are extremely sensitive by nature; if disturbed, they may abandon their nests. Once they abandon their breeding grounds on the island, it is very difficult for them to return in the future,” the post said.
“We urge boat operators and tourists to avoid picking up visitors for transport to, or landing on, these tern breeding islands during the ecologically sensitive period.”
Terns mainly feed on small fish and aerial insects. About 40 species exist globally, with 12 recorded in Hong Kong. Three species breed on Hong Kong’s outlying rocky islands during summer, including one near Po Toi Island, according to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).