A charitable organization incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability by guarantee.
Registered Charity Number: 91/06472
水口計劃最新消息EN
The "Shui Hau Ecological Guardians" Volunteer Program is a year-round initiative. It aims to engage individuals interested in learning about wetlands and participating in farmland restoration, assisting the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society with a range of environmental conservation and public education activities.
Shui Hau Village on Lantau Island is a unique village in Hong Kong that rich in rural character and biodiversity. The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society has been collaborating with Shui Hau Village to conserve its landscape and biodiversity through ongoing wetland management efforts, creating an environment that balances ecological value with sustainable development.
While Shui Hau boasts diverse habitats, nearby irrigation waterways have fallen into disrepair for many years, and farmland has been abandoned for decades, thus threatening the wetland ecosystem. Therefore, Shui Hau urgently needs the help of volunteers to participate in farming restoration, habitat management, ecological research, and other related tasks, working together to protect this wetland. This program seeks to create diverse wetland habitats to attract wildlife to reside and breed here. Among these, rice paddy restoration is a key focus, with the goal of attracting the critically endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting (commonly known as the "rice bird") and other bunting species.
If you enjoy outdoor activities and want to contribute to wetland restoration, now is your chance!
Objectives
- To recruit volunteers to learn about the Shui Hau’s wetland habitats, particularly the ecological and conservation value of restoring paddy fields.
- To organise a group of volunteers passionate about wetland and bird conservation to assist with long-term wetland management and public education.
Volunteer Training Program Activitie
[1. Online Lecture] 12/6/2025 (THU) 19:00 – 20:00
[2. Outdoor Training] 15/6/2025 (SUN) 09:45 – 16:30 (Coach provided)
Language: Primarily Cantonese
Target Audience: Aged 18 or above
Quota: 25 participants
Activity Location: Shui Hau Wetland Farmland
Activity Content:
1) Project Introduction
2) Shui Hau Farmland Guided Tour
3) Hands-on Farming Experience (daily field work, crop harvesting demonstration and experience)
Registration Link: https://bit.ly/hkbws_shuihau_volunteer
Application Deadline: 11/6/2025 (WED)
Upon completion of the training, you will become an official volunteer! Volunteers can participate in our service program, accumulating hours to earn certificates and gifts!
This conservation initiative requires deep cultivation and meticulous effort, and we sincerely hope for your participation. Please also share this long-term and meaningful volunteer opportunity with your friends and family!
Should you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or inquire via our Facebook channel / Instagram DM.
#HKBWS #LantauConservationFund #Volunteer #FarmTogether! #Ecology #Cultivation
We initiated the first attempt to plant mid-season rice (Chinese: “Dragon Boat Festival” season rice) in Shui Hau. During the selection of rice species, we learned from the villagers that Shui Hau used to be renowed for its production of black glutinous rice. When the villagers spoke of black glutinous rice, their eyes sparkled with immense pride; thus, we decided to choose a larger field to focus on planting black glutinous rice.
When the black glutinous rice thrived and grew, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the whole field emitted a rich aroma of rice even before the rice began to head (head: refer to the flowering part of the rice, specifically the panicle). Some villagers even reached out to us to inquire about this aroma. In this way, black glutinous rice inadvertently became our ambassador, garnering us a considerable number of supporters. The growth of black glutinous rice was more upright compared to other rice varieties, and it remained resilient even in strong winds and heavy rains, winning the affection of the farmers. Next to the black glutinous rice, we planted ivory germ rice and pearl rice that we had experimented with last year to provide a hearty meal for the migratory birds in autumn and winter.
After enduring typhoons and several instances of flooding, we finally welcome the long-awaited harvest time. On the day of the harvest, the weather was perfect—sunny and calm. We collaborated with the villagers to finish the whole process of harvesting and threshing of rice. Some were busy cutting the rice, while others helped transport a pile of paddy, and those by the field meticulously organised bundles of rice for the threshing specialist. As we neared the end of harvesting, everyone eagerly took photos with the bountiful black glutinous rice, capturing the moment of Shui Hau’s successful revival of black glutinous rice.
Figure 1: The village representative and us holding black glutinous rice for a photo.
Figure 2: Villagers harvesting black glutinous rice.
Figure 3: Villagers placing the harvested rice on a mat to wait for threshing.
Figure 4: Organising the harvested rice into bundles to speed up the threshing process.
Figure 5: A group photo of the colleagues from the Shui Hau project.
Figure 6: The very upright black glutinous rice.
Figure 7: The uncovered ivory germ rice and pearl rice next to the black glutinous rice for the birds to enjoy.
On June 1, 2024, Tropical Cyclone Maliksi struck Hong Kong. Despite the severe weather conditions under Signal No. 3, researchers from the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society discovered a bird species which has never been recorded in Hong Kong: the Javan Pond Heron (Ardeola speciosa), in the rice fields at Shui Hau on Lantau Island.
After months of diligent efforts, the water pond was finally completed successfully to increase the habitat diversity of Shui Hau.
After the first harvest, we followed the Shui Hau tradition of using the initial batch of rice for worship, and on the same day, we hosted a rice-tasting event, aiming to share our accomplishments with the cooperative villagers of Shui Hau in the most direct manner. Simultaneously, we hoped to express our heartfelt gratitude to the villagers of Shui Hau for their enduring support through the rice-tasting event. On the day of the event, not only did the villagers who strongly supported us participate, but even the granny of Shui Hau, who usually stayed indoors, joined in! Witnessing the smiles on everyone's faces, we felt that all the preparation and effort were truly worthwhile! The kind-hearted villagers generously shared their homegrown vegetables and other agricultural products, adding a touch of elegance to the rice-tasting event! Coinciding with the Lunar New Year, while sharing the first harvest, we also extended our wishes to the villagers of Shui Hau for a healthy, peaceful, and prosperous Year of the Dragon, filled with abundance and prosperity!
Figure 1: Mr. Cheung Ka Chun, Project Manager of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, introduces "Shui Hau Rice" to everyone.
Figure 2: In celebration of the Lunar New Year, villagers attend the rice tasting event with their families.
Figure 3: Kind-hearted villagers generously share their homegrown vegetables and other agricultural products.
Figure 4: Villagers wear satisfied and joyful smiles on their faces.
Figure 5: The granny of Shui Hau expresses, "Shui Hau Rice is absolutely delicious!"
As mentioned, we have held a Shui Hau rice harvest day with the villagers. However, the Yellow-breasted Buntings had already started their own “harvest” in the paddy field even before us!
As the paddies began to turn golden, from time to time, we noticed some creatures even more golden-yellow than the paddy itself bouncing around the farmlands. As we approached, they would whoosh off to the nearby dense woods, peeking stealthily at the humans wielding large shovels. We raised our binoculars for a closer look and spotted the yellow belly, exclaiming without thinking: "Ah—It's a YBB!" (Note: YBB = Yellow-breasted Bunting).
Not only did we have our meal ready, but the Yellow-breasted Buntings also found their feast at Shui Hau.
Picture 1: Yellow-breasted Bunting hiding in the paddy field
Picture 2: Yellow-breasted Bunting feasting in the paddy field
We successfully established the first paddy field in Shui Hau after about half a century!
By the end of November last year, we held a small-scale Shui Hau's first rice harvest da. Together with the villagers, we spent the better part of a day harvesting the rice and threshing the grain (separating the seed from the straw). After threshing, the grains were taken to be polished (the process of milling the brown rice to white), and then came the much-anticipated moment – mealtime!
????????????Villager A, harvested the rice with ease despite claiming to have not done so for many years.
"Thank you all so much – it feels like returning to the old days of harvesting rice!"
????????????Villager B, seeing some grains still clinging to the straw after threshing, carefully picked off each one.
"It's finally possible to see rice back in Shui Hau! Seeing everyone's hard work, not a single grain of rice can go to waste, each one is the fruit of labour!"
Looking forward to the next harvest! (continue to use shovels to turn the soil)
Picture 1:HKBWS colleagues and villagers cultivating the land.
Picture 2: The Shui Hau Villager Representative Kei gor and Chun from HKBWS taking photo with the Shui Hau Rice
Picture 3: Shui Hau villager Wah gor and his wife grabbing the harvest by themselves with a bright smile
Picture 4: The villager is so excited to participate to the Shu Hau Rice harvest and witnessing the rice grain coming out
Picture 5: With the great focus on each Shui Hau Rice, you can feel how much touching was in her heart
Picture 6: Without the great effort from our farmer, ar Tin, we will not able to establish our first paddy field in Shui Hau!
In addition to managing water flow following the growth stages of the crops, we also maintain continuous vigilance over water quality. We have established a partnership with The Education University of Hong Kong to routinely test parameters such as dissolved oxygen and pH levels in the water sources within the Shui Hau swamp in different areas.
Initially, students found navigating the swamp to be quite challenging. However, their efficiency improved as they became more familiar with the environment. Accessing specific water sources even required them to bend low, wading through expansive taro fields (as depicted in Figure 2). Grealy appreciates their relentless efforts that we have managed to gather vital water quality data from the Shui Hau swamp. These data are integral to the development of a holistic habitat management plan.
Figure 1: Students taking water samples in the Shui Hau swamp
Figure 2: Students passing through the large field of taro and swamp to take a water sample
