The 23rd Big Bird Race take off on 3 March
WWF will host the 23rd annual Big Bird Race (BBR) to raise urgent -needed funds for the Mai Po Nature Reserve on 3 and 4 March 2006. A total of 13 birdwatching teams will compete for the top bird-watching team champion by recording as many different bird species as possible within 24-hour bird race in Hong Kong.
With a land area of only 1,095 square kilometres, Hong Kong is home to over 420 species of birds – roughly a third of the total number of bird species in the whole of China. The Big Bird Race is essential to WWF’s efforts to raise awareness of Hong Kong’s rich bird life, while the donations from the event are a crucial contribution towards our management of Mai Po Nature Reserve.
Half of the funds raised will be used to carry out regular but important maintenance work within the Reserve. This includes the maintenance of the wetland habitats for wildlife such as mangroves, waterbird roosting sites and freshwater ponds as well as public facilities like birdwatching hides and boardwalks. In view of the recent concern of Avian Flu, a percentage of the funds raised this year will be specially allocated for conducting important research on migratory birds for the benefit of people and birds.
All teams will design their own route, which usually covers the birdwatching hotspots such as Long Valley, Tsim Bei Tsui and Tai Po Kau. Teams will also employ different skills such as hearing the owls or nightjar churring during mid-night to record bird species. Participating teams include Junior Police Call Team and Baptist Wing Lung Secondary School Team formed by young birdwatchers.
The winning team of last year was the Eagles Team recording 145 species of birds. The total number of bird species spotted last year was 205.
Members of the public are encouraged to contribute to the protection of key habitats by making donations in a lump sum or by per bird species to the team(s) they support. For further information, please visit our website at [www.wwf.org.hk].
Participating Team s & Sponsors :
- The Professionals (Mr. Daniel Bradshaw & Mr. Percy Weatherall)
- Cathay Pacific All Stars (Cathay Pacific Ltd.)
- Mai Po Team (Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd.)
- Kadoorie Cuckoos (CLP Power Ltd.)
- DHL Team (DHL)
- Hong Kong Electric JPC Team (Hong Kong Electric Co., Ltd.)
- Jebsen Eagles ( Jebsen & Co. Ltd .)
- JPMorgan Wandering Tattlers ( JPMorgan Chase Bank )
- Lee Hysan Sparrows ( Lee Hysan Foundation )
- Swire Birdbrains ( The Swire Group Charitable Foundation )
- mfJebsen JNC Falcons (mfJebsen JNC)
- Sunbirds
The events ponsors include The Bank of East Asia Ltd., Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd., Kerry Holdings Ltd., and Modern Terminals. Special thanks are extended to Aigle, Pentax and Sino Group.
WWF has been working here in Hong Kong since 1981 to ensure a better environment for the present and future generations in Hong Kong through implementing a wide range of focused conservation and environmental education programmes in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Our conservation objectives are to conserve Hong Kong and China's biodiversity, improve the quality of our environment while motivating people to act to conserve our natural environment. Education is one of our key tools in pursuing our objectives.
