In birding season, birders and bird photographers may visit rural area to watch and photograph birds. However, as most rural areas are private properties, please take extra cautions when birding there. A note is developed in addition to our “Code of Conduct for Birdwatching and Bird Photography” for your action:
1. Respect private properties, local custom and culture:
- Most of the lands in rural area are privately owned. Please respect local residents, their private properties and belongings. Do not damage any property and crops in the field.
- If requested by villagers or farmers, birders should leave the area as soon as possible to avoid causing any discontentment.
- Ancestral shrine, temple and cemetery are important elements of local culture and custom. Do not enter these architectures without permission. Do not step on cemetery. Behave decently.
- Do not enter alleyway between houses so as to minimize disturbance to daily life of residents.
- Keep the area clean. Do not smoke or litter.
- Keep quiet and avoid making noise.
2. Protect crops in the field
- Farmers rely on farmlands for their livings. Do not walk into farmlands. Do not step on or damage crops.
- Farmers plant crops around their farmlands (e.g. on bunds); so please be careful when you are walking around. Do not step on the crops.
- Do not walk into the farmlands when the path is blocked. When the path is blocked, please use another one. To avoid causing unnecessary lost, do not try to pass through the barrier.
- Do not walk on those harvested farmlands to avoid disturbance.
- Do not walk on narrow bunds between rice paddies (in Long Valley) since these bunds are made for special purposes and for farmers' use only.
- Do not move or relocate farmer’s tool or belongings. Do not put any stuff, e.g. branch or stone, onto farmlands or bunds because it may hinder cultivation activity and put farmers in danger.
3. Driving & Parking
- Roads in rural area are usually narrow and single two way, please be patient and be considerate to oncoming cars on a narrow road.
- Try to use public car parks or on-street parking with meters if possible; otherwise, try to park your car in open area or at broad roadside.
- After parking the car, pay attention to whether the vehicle has obstructed the traffic or occupied residents’ parking spaces because parking spaces are not always apparent in rural area.
- Place your contact number in front of the windscreen for emergency contact.
