© Bena Smith
	© Bena Smith

Winter 2007/08 gei wai drain-down

Over the coming months, WWF will drain-down many of the gei wai inside Mai Po Nature Reserve. This is done to benefit wintering waterbirds in Deep Bay whom congregate at the gei wai as the water-level is gradually lowered. In particular Egrets, Herons and Black-faced Spoonbill benefit because their principle food items (mainly small fish, shrimp and larvae) are exposed and become concentrated into smaller and smaller areas of water.

Past observations show that day numbers, particularly 3-4 days after draining commences, can reach in excess of 1,000 waterbirds including over 90% of the Deep Bay Black-faced Spoonbill wintering population.

The proposed gei wai drain-down dates for the winter 2007/08 period are: