Leave wild birds alone in nature

11 May 2018 | Animal Stories

A family of Collared Scops Owls nesting in a park in Kowloon have recently attracted citywide attention. We call on everyone to comply with the law, and give these and any other young birds space to develop successfully and leave the nest. The parent birds also require a tranquil and safe environment to raise their young. Disturbance to the birds could cause parents and chicks to abandon their nests. We should strive to live in harmony with nature!

(Photo credit: Winson Ho)

To protect the birds:

Observe only from a distance quietly. (Why? If you get too close, the parents might be afraid to leave the nest to hunt for food to raise their family or may be unable to return to the nest to feed their young)
Do not publicise the location of wild animals and plants. (Why? It might attract large crowds to observe the wildlife and disturb the necessary daily routines of the animals. Worse still, the information might land in the wrong hands, causing the wildlife to be illegally hunted)
Do not shine torchlight or use flash photography in the presence of wild birds. (Why? This can be very disturbing to wild birds. Owls in particular are nocturnal and their eyes are highly sensitive to light.)
Do not feed the young birds. (Why? If birds get regular food from humans, they will not learn to hunt for themselves and survive in the wild. They will also get too habituated to humans and in the worst case scenario inappropriate food may cause death.
If you see anybody disturbing the birds, report it to AFCD by calling 1823.
Do not remove young birds from the ground as soon as you find them; leave them alone and observe for a while whether the parents are around and caring for them.

Collared Scops Owls are actually widely distributed in Hong Kong. They are the most common owl in urban areas. They do not build nests, instead they utilize existing tree and ground holes. Their feathers, which are multiple shades of brown, provide good camouflage in trees.

All birds and their eggs and nests in Hong Kong are protected by the Wild Animal Protection Ordinance (Cap 170). Any person who takes, removes, injures, destroys or willfully disturbs birds, their nest or their eggs shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for one year.