The International Black-faced Spoonbill Census led by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society has proven to be an effective way to survey the abundance and distribution of this globally endangered. The results provide not only the current number of this species, but also comparable figures for understanding the trends locally and globally.

Since the commencement of the census in 1993, this census is conducted mostly by volunteer birdwatchers with aids from professional conservationists and site managers. More than 100 surveyors join this census every year, hence this has become an important awareness programme for this species too. The next census will take place on 25-27 January 2019.

For more information, please contact Yat-tung Yu, coordinator of the EAAFP Black-faced Spoonbill Working Group (email: bfspoonbill@hkbws.org.hk)

Black-faced Spoonbills (c)Yat Tung Yu