Long Valley & Ho Sheung Heung
Long Valley has diverse habitats and is a stopover for many migratory birds. According to a survey by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, more than 310 bird species were recorded in Long Valley from 1993 to 2017, accounting for half of the total number of bird species in Hong Kong and including 20 globally endangered species as well as many locally endangered bird species.
Environmental groups the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society and the Conservancy Association have been carrying out ecological and farmland conservation work in Long Valley since 2005, and have also been assisting in habitat management and promoting public education activities. In the future, according to the government's plan for the Kwu Tung North New Development Area, Long Valley Wetlands have been reclaimed and have become government land. It is planned to be developed into the "Long Valley Nature Park" and will be divided into three major areas: tourism, agriculture and ecological conservation area.
Rusting Bunting
Yellow-breasted Bunting
Ecological characteristics:
Long Valley is one of the few freshwater wetland habitats in Hong Kong. In the past, many farmlands were planted with various wetland crops such as rice fields, watercress fields, and water spinach fields. During the spring and autumn seasons, it attracted many birds who depended on the fields for food and rest. Birds such as the seed-feeding bunting and the yellow-breasted bunting, have become critically endangered bird species worldwide due to overhunting. Other birds such as the rusting bunting and the yellow bunting emberiza sulphurata are also worth protecting.
Greater Painted Snipe
In addition to migratory birds, wet farmland is also a breeding ground for some birds. Greater Painted Snipe has a limited local distribution. These birds have a unique polyandry system. The brightly colored females are only responsible for laying eggs, while raising chicks is left to the males with strong protective colors.
Lowland freshwater habitats attract many amphibians and aquatic insects to reproduce. The Chinese Bullfrog, which is of great concern in China, is a frequent visitor to paddy fields. In addition, nearly half of all amphibians live here. Dragonflies and damselflies are among the indicators of aquatic insects, but there are also other aquatic beetles and some less common stink bugs.
To know more about the biodiversity of Long Valley:
It can be found in the Lady Ho Tung Welfare Centre Eco-Learn Institute Project in iNaturalist.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/sik-sik-yuen-lady-ho-tung-welfare-centre-eco-learn-institute