HKBWS's response to the recent bird death incidents

Like other citizens, we have been concerned about the recent reports of dead birds from sites throughout Hong Kong. These deaths have been blamed by some people on the effects of tear gas released recently in the city. However, the cause of death has not been established with any certainty and it is very difficult to confirm whether a death is caused by tear gas. We prefer to remain scientific in our assessment of the situation rather than hurriedly reaching conclusions.

Our preliminary record of reports received so far suggest that the species most impacted recently seem to be Chestnut Bulbul and Indochinese Yuhina. Both are forest species that are migrating through Hong Kong in recent days, which would not remain for long in the urban area. It is unlikely that these species would be more at risk from tear gas impacts than other species that live permanently in the urban area. 

There are many other potential causes of these bird deaths, for example collisions with windows or vehicles. It is possible that many birds die in this way in the city each year, but in normal circumstances the bodies are cleared quickly by street cleaners, who have not been able to carry out their duty in recent days, so that dead birds may remain on the street for longer than normal. Meanwhile the public attention to the issue may have led to more people looking for dead birds, leading to an impression that the number of birds affected is high, even though it may be normal for the season.

More data are needed to fully assess the situation. We encourage the public to report any sick or dead birds to HKBWS so that we can continue to monitor the situation and can liaise with government to take action to minimise future risk to birds. Please inform us of the date, exact location, number, photos and (if possible) species of bird involved. Sick birds can also be reported to AFCD or SPCA who may be able to help with collection of the bird for rehabilitation.

We would like to thank the public for their ongoing concern over the health of our bird populations. Bird conservation is, of course, our primary concern, and we are working to learn from these dead birds to prevent similar instances in the future.

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