Monitoring of Measures to Minimise
Disturbance to Water Birds in Ng Tung River, Sheung Yue River, Shek
Sheung River and Long Valley
Monitoring
Requirements and Protocol
9.1
As
required under Section 12.3.2.5 of Updated EM&A Manual, where development
under the NDAs project is undertaken within 200m (the maximum distance at which
it is predicted there may be some disturbance, and hence a reduction in
numbers, of large waterbirds) of Sheung
Yue River and Long Valley, weekly transect at both high and low tides should be
followed (It is considered high tide when the tidal levels are above 1.5m and
low tide when the tidal levels are below 1.5m at Tsim
Bei Tsui Station).
9.2
The
purpose of the survey was to identify and enumerate all bird species utilizing
the river channels and Long Valley Nature Park (LVNP) and identify any sources
of actual or potential disturbance to birds due to construction activities
throughout the construction period according to Methodology specified in Table
12.1 in Updated EM&A Manual.
9.3
Monitoring
in Long Valley should follow the methodology adopted by the regular HKBWS bird
monitoring programme in order to obtain comparable
results and complete coverage of the area in the shortest time possible.
Monitoring
Frequency
9.4
High
tide and low tide avifauna monitoring is required to be carried out on weekly
basis.
Additional night-time avifauna
monitoring in Long Valley is required to be carried out twice monthly from
September to April.
|
Date
of avifauna monitoring: |
5th, 8th, 12th,
15th, 18st, 19th, 25th, 29th
January 2021 |
|
Date
of night-time monitoring: |
8th, 12th
January 2021 |
Monitoring
Location
9.5
The
avifauna monitoring was carried out at Ng Tung River, Sheung
Yue River and Long Valley in Reporting Month according to construction works.
The transect routes in the Reporting Month were as follows:
•
T1. Ng Tung
River
•
T2. Ng Tung
River
•
T3. Sheung Yue River
•
T5. Long Valley
As the sensitive receivers (large waterbirds) are easily visible, the transect route will
only need to follow one bank of the rivers.
9.6
The location of
Transects T1, T2, T3 and T5 is shown in Figure
7 for reference.
Monitoring
Parameters
9.7
The monitoring
parameters and survey methodology for each transect are described below:
•
Abundance of
birds
•
Types of
habitat of which birds in use
•
Notable bird behaviours such as roosting, feeding, nesting and presence
of juveniles
•
Birds heard
though birdcalls that could not be located would be marked as “heard”, while
birds flying over the survey area would be marked as “flight”. Species of
conservation significance would be specified.
9.8
Other
information at the time of survey such as weather condition, tidal condition,
tide level and noticeable natural or anthropogenic activities would be
documented.
9.9
For
Avifauna survey, Ornithological nomenclature would make reference to The
Avifauna of Hong Kong (Carey et al.
2001), The Birds of Hong Kong and South China (Viney et al. 2005), and the most recent
updated list from other sources (e.g. Hong Kong Bird Watching Society).
Monitoring
Result
9.10 In total, 69 species of birds were recorded during
the bird surveys within assessment area. Among the recorded birds, there were 23
species of waterbirds. The detailed list of waterbirds and all recorded birds are shown in Appendix I1k and I1l respectively.
9.11 Among the four transects, the transect T5 had a
higher species diversity and abundance due to its diverse habitat types within
Long Valley. Species such as Ardeola bacchus and Egretta garzetta were commonly
found roosting and foraging at wetland habitats such as agricultural lands and
shallow water habitats.
9.12 Along the transect T5 in Long Valley, species with
conservation interest such as Himantopus himantopus, which
is a passage migrant, and Tringa glareola, which is a passage migrant and winter
visitor, were also commonly observed in shallow water habitat.
9.13 A high abundance of Himantopus himantopus and Tringa glareola were found roosting at
night-time in shallow water habitats. Gallinago gallinago, Anas crecca, Rostratula benghalensis, Ardea cinerea, Charadrius dubius, Recurvirostra avosetta and Amaurornis phoenicurus
were also found in wet habitats during the night survey.
9.14 Soil
turning with excavator and landscape formation works were observed in T5 in the
reporting month.
9.15 Transect T3 was conducted along the Sheung Yue River. Bird species such as Ardeola bacchus, Tringa ochropus and Egretta garzetta were commonly
observed feeding and roosting on the river bank and river bed. Construction
work was observed beside Sheung Yue River.
9.16 Transect T1 and T2 are located at Ng Tung River. Ardeola bacchus
and Egretta garzetta were
commonly found feeding and roosting along the Ng Tung River. Fishing activities
were observed at both T1 and T2, while construction activities were observed at
T2 during the avifauna monitoring.
9.17 Falco tinnunculus and Accipiter trivirgatus
were recorded for the first time since the first reporting month for
avifauna survey in July 2020.
9.18
Avifauna
monitoring in construction phase was conducted during the reporting month and
the detailed results are attached in Appendix
I1.
Monitoring
Requirements and Protocol
9.19
As
required under Section 12.3.2.14 of Updated EM&A Manual, aquatic faunal
monitoring should be carried out during the construction phase.
9.20
Larger
organisms such as fish should be monitored by direct counting, while
kick-netting and sweep-netting should be used for invertebrate sampling. There should
be three replicates for invertebrate sampling at each sampling point. For
kick-netting, the net should be placed with the opening facing the water
current, and the substrate should be disturbed by kicking to dislodge organisms
from the stream bed. Sweep-netting should be conducted when kick-netting is not
feasible, such as in area with no water current. Small organisms that could not
be identified with naked eye should be brought to the laboratory for
identification under the dissecting microscope.
Monitoring
Frequency
9.21
Quantitative
aquatic fauna replicate surveys of stream fauna is required to be carried out
on monthly basis during wet season. Three replicates for invertebrates sampling
and direct counting of fish fauna should be performed respectively.
Monitoring
Location
9.22
During
wet season, the monitoring location required to be carried out in Ma Tso Lung
Stream according to construction works are as follow:
|
•
MS_01 |
•
MS_02 |
•
MS_03 |
•
MS_04 |
•
MS_05 |
|
•
MS_06 |
•
MS_07 |
•
MS_08 |
•
MS_09 |
•
MS_10 |
9.23
The
location of Monitoring Stations shown in
Figure 8 for reference.
Monitoring
Parameters
9.24
The
monitoring parameters and survey methodology for each monitoring station are
described below:
•
Species
composition
•
Abundance
•
Distribution
for invertebrates and fish fauna
•
Species of
conservation significance would be specified
9.25
Other
information at the time of survey such as weather condition and noticeable
natural or anthropogenic activities would be recorded.
Monitoring
Status
9.26
According
to the Updated EM&A Manual, quantitative aquatic fauna replicate surveys of
stream fauna is required to be carried out on monthly basis during wet season.
During the reporting Month, no aquatic fauna replicate surveys was carried out.
Monitoring
Requirements and Protocol
9.27
As
required under Section 12.3.2.17 of Updated EM&A Manual, monitoring of
measures to minimize impacts should be carried out during the construction
phase.
9.28
The
purpose of survey is to monitor the effectiveness of measures to minimize
impacts on ecologically sensitive habitats from disturbance and pollution by standard
faunal transect surveys.
Mammal survey
9.29
Mammal
survey should be performed during both day and night times, in areas along the
transect routes which may potentially be utilized by terrestrial mammals. Field
signs such as droppings, footprints, diggings and burrows left by larger
terrestrial mammals should be observed. Mammals directly observed should be
recorded, and identification should be made as accurate as possible form the
field signs observed.
9.30
Bat
survey should be conducted along the transect routes shortly after sunset, with
the use of a bat detector to record the echolocation calls. The relative
abundance of the species encountered should be estimated using a scale from one
(single individual recorded) to five (very abundant). Nomenclature of mammal should
be based on Shek (2006).
Herpetofauna survey
(Amphibians and Reptiles)
9.31
Amphibian
surveys should be conducted whenever possible on evenings following or during
periods of rainfall, focusing on areas suitable for amphibians (e.g. forest, shrublands, grasslands, streams, ponds, marshes, etc.).
Calling amphibians should be recorded, supplemented by visual observation of
eggs, tadpoles, adult frogs, and toads.
9.32
Active
searching of appropriate microhabitats such as stones, pond bunds, crevices and
leaf debris should be performed mainly. Observation of exposed, basking and
foraging reptiles should also be conducted. Nomenclature of amphibian and
reptile should be based on Chan et al. (2005) and Karsen
et al. (1998), respectively.
Insect survey (Butterfly and Dragonfly)
9.33
Butterflies
and dragonflies observed along the transects should be
identified and counted. Preferable habitats of the insects such as
watercourses, fishponds, and vegetated areas should be observed with special
attention. Nomenclature and protection status of the species should be based on
Lo et al. (2005) for butterflies and Tam et al. (2011) for dragonflies
Monitoring
Frequency
9.34
Monitoring
surveys of ecological sensitive receivers such as mammals, insects (butterflies
and dragonflies), and herpetofauna should be
undertaken on a monthly bases.
|
Date
of Monitoring surveys of ecological sensitive
receivers: |
25th,
27th January 2021 |
Monitoring
Location
9.35
The
transect routes in the Reporting Month according to construction works are as
follows:
•
T1. Ma Tso Lung
riparian zone and associated wetland habitats;
•
T1. Green belt
areas E1-8, D1-8 and G1-3 in KTN NDA;
•
T1. AGR one C2-4
and C2-2 in KTN NDA;
•
T1. Area north
of Ng Tung River;
•
T3. Area west of
Siu Hang San Tsuen Stream
•
T4. South side
of Fanling Highway and Castle Peak Road in the
vicinity of Pak Shek Au;
•
T5. Area west
and east of the southern limit of the FLN NDA work area; and
•
T6. Areas in the
western part of KTN
9.36
The
location of Transects is shown in Figure
9 for reference.
Monitoring
Parameters
9.37
The
monitoring parameters and survey methodology for each transect are described
below:-
•
Species
composition
•
Abundance
•
Distribution
for fauna observed
•
Species of
conservation significance would be specified
Monitoring
Result
Mammal
9.38 During the survey, a total of 6 mammal species were
recorded from transects T1, T3, T4, T5 and T6. A total of 4 species of
conservation importance were recorded, namely Miniopterus schreibersii, Rhinolophus sp., Pipistrellus abramus and Cynopterus sphinx,
which are all bat species.
9.39 Domestic cat, Felis catus was found at T1 and T5. Domestic
dog, Canis lupus familiaris,
was found at T1, T3, T4, T5 and T6, where associated with human settlements.
9.40 Bat species, Cynopterus sphinx was observed roosting in the tent-shaped shelter under
fronds of Chinese Fan-palm during daytime survey, and was found in flight at
nighttime at T1 and T3. Miniopterus sp. was recorded in flight at nighttime at T1, Rhinolophus sp. was recorded in
flight at nighttime at T5, Pipistrellus abramus was recorded in flight at nighttime at T1, T3, T4, and
T5.
9.41 Echolocation calls of bats were recorded with a bat
detector. The bat detector would list out possible bat species having similar
echolocation calls in pattern and frequency. The structure of the echolocation
calls from the recordings was later analysed to
identify species as far as possible (the lack of literature on echolocation
call structure makes the field identification of some bat species in Hong Kong difficult,
and some species could only be identified to genus level, or remain
unidentified from the recordings).
9.42 Identification of bat species encountered in the
surveys was made with consideration to the possible bat species suggested by
the bat detector, the distribution of the suggested bat species in Hong Kong,
previous records of bat species in the EIA Report and Baseline Monitoring
Report, and the structure of echolocation calls of the recordings (including
call structure, frequency, duration, inter pulse interval etc., with reference
to relevant literatures).
9.43 Miniopterus sp. was with echolocations
in call structure of FM/QCF (frequency modulated/quasi constant frequency) and
frequency around 50 kHz to 64 kHz recorded (Chao, 2001, p.54 and Chou &
Cheng, 2012, p.42). Rhinolophus sp. was recorded with
echolocations in call structure of FM-CF-FM (frequency modulated -constant
frequency -frequency modulated) and frequency around 35 kHz to 45 kHz (Shek & Lau, 2006, p.9-12). Pipistrellus abramus was recorded with FM/QCF call structure and frequency around 45 kHz to
62 kHz (Chao, 2001, p.54 and Ma et.al, 2010, p.6). The above characteristics
were further compared with data from relevant literatures to confirm the
identities. References were made to Tong (2016).
Herpetofauna (Amphibians and Reptiles)
9.44 Along the transects, a
total of 3 herpetofauna species were observed. None
of them were species of conservation importance. Species including toad and gecko
were recorded near wetland habitats and watercourse. Transect T5 had higher
species diversity and abundance than other transects.
Insects (Butterfly and Dragonfly)
9.45
During the
insect survey, a total of 12 butterfly species and 5 odonata
species were recorded from the transects, with none of
the species being of conservation importance. Transect T1 and T5 had higher
butterfly species diversity than other transects. Uncommon species Chilades pandava was found at transect T1.
9.46
Number of
dragonfly species recorded in the reporting month is similar among all of the transects. All of the dragonfly species recorded were
common and abundant in Hong Kong.
9.47
Ecological
sensitive receivers such as mammals, insects (butterflies and dragonflies), and
herpetofauna monitoring in construction phase was
conducted during the reporting month and the results are attached in Appendix I2 to I5.
Details of the Influencing Factors
Major Activities
9.48 During the survey of Monitoring of Measures to Minimise Disturbance to Water Birds in Sheung
Yue River and Long Valley, anthropogenic activities including soil turning with
excavator and landscape formation works were observed in Long Valley.
Construction work was observed beside Sheung Yue
River.
9.49 The anthropogenic activities affected only a small
area of habitat in Long Valley during the monitoring and would only pose minor
disturbances to the birds. It was observed that Bubulcus coromandus foraged in close vicinity to
the excavators.
9.50 During the survey of Monitoring of Measures to Minimise Disturbance to Water Birds in Ng Tung River,
anthropogenic activities including construction works at T2, and recreational
fishing by fishing rod at both T1 and T2 were observed.
Weather Conditions
9.51
According
to the observation during survey, temperature and the rain flow record in the
Reporting Month (Reference: http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/pastwx/metob202101.htm),
weather condition might pose influence towards the monitoring result.
9.52
Since
the Final Baseline Ecological Monitoring Report has not been issued yet during
the Reporting Month, the Action and Limit Level of ecological monitoring will
be compared with the monitoring results in the Reporting Month and track back
exceedance reporting (if any) after the Final Baseline Ecological Monitoring
Report has been issued.
9.53
The
detailed Ecological monitoring results are attached in Appendix I.
Chao,
N. M. (2001). Identification of Pipistrellus
abramus, Miniopterus
schreibersii, Hipposideros
terasensis, and Rhinolophus
Monoceros using echolocation call characters. (Doctoral dissertation, MS
thesis, National Sun Yat-Sen University)
Chou,
C. H., & Cheng, H. C. (2012). Echolocation Calls of the Eleven
Insectivorous Bats of Taiwan. Taiwan Journal of Biodiversity, 14(3-4),
33-62.
Ma,
J., Jones, G., Zhu, G. J., & Metzner, W. (2010).
Echolocation behaviours of the Japanese pipistrelle
bat Pipistrellus abramus
during foraging flight. Acta Theriologica, 55(4), 315-332.
Shek, C. T.,& Lau, T. Y. (2006). Echolocation Calls of Five
Horseshoe Bats of Hong Kong. Hong Kong Biodiversity,13,9-12.
Tong, C. F. (2016).
Distribution and preference of landscape features and foraging sites of
insectivorous bats in Hong Kong urban parks. (Master dissertation)