Ma Tso Lung
Ma Tso Lung is located north of Kwu Tung and forms a large wetland with fish ponds in Hoo Hok Wai, adjacent to the Shenzhen River. The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society has been conducting the "Hong Kong Fishpond Conservation Scheme" since 2012. It not only supports the economic activities of traditional fish pond farming, but more importantly, it allows more wetland birds to live through harmonious interaction between humans and nature and have more space for food and survival. According to the 2015-2017 report, there are 208 bird species recorded in fish ponds, of which 16 are listed as threatened bird species in the IUCN Red List (2016). For example, the endangered black-faced spoonbill will forage for small fish and shrimps in the shallow water after the fish pond precipitation. Near the drying stage of the fish pond, even the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper is found foraging for food. The open habitat of fish ponds is popular with birds of prey, such as the vulnerable Eastern Imperial Eagle and Greater Spotted Eagle, who choose to spend the winter there. The vulnerable Collared crow is particularly dependent on wetland habitats, and fish ponds are often the best place to observe them.
Cobra
Black-faced Spoonbill
Black-faced Spoonbill
Collared crow
As for amphibians and reptiles, in addition to fish ponds, Ma Tso Lung also has large areas of precious freshwater swamps, providing them with abundant food and an ideal habitat. As a result, as many as 12 species of amphibians and 17 species of reptiles have been recorded, including vulnerable species such as the Burmese python, cobra, king cobra and Chinese softshell turtle.
The unique thing about the fish pond ecosystem in Hong Kong is that it requires human participation and the use of traditional breeding techniques. Therefore, the fish pond conservation scheme conserves not only the bird ecology but also the human population of the entire area and the natural ecology.