尼泊爾黃胸鵐保育: 越冬種群監察及本土社區生境管理合作計劃 2023/24 Safeguarding Nepal's Yellow-breasted Bunting: Wintering Population Monitoring and Habitat Conservation Initiative through Community Collaboration 2023/24

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尼泊爾黃胸鵐保育: 越冬種群監察及本土社區生境管理合作計劃

香港觀鳥會亞洲自然保育基金2023-2024年度的最後一個資助項目「尼泊爾黃胸鵐保育: 越冬種群監察及本土社區生境管理合作計劃」已順利完成。

尼泊爾是極度瀕危物種黃胸鵐重要的越冬地之一，當地的草原、濕地和農田等多樣生境為黃胸鵐提供了豐富的食物。在2023年11月至2024年6月期間，研究人員在12個重點地區進行了實地調查，以全面了解黃胸鵐在越冬地的族群分布。調查期間共錄得1,122隻個體，其中博克拉地區最多，錄得485隻，其次是戈希省的260隻和捷雲地區的146隻，這些數字令人鼓舞。研究顯示，農地是黃胸鵐數量最多的生境，特別是米田。

除了數據收集和分析，研究團隊還舉辦了一系列的社區參與活動，包括與當地政府部門合辦的黑市鳥類貿易和非法捕獵研討會，及向公眾講解保護黃胸鵐的保育行動，並派發宣傳單張。整個計劃強調保護棲息地、加強執法和促進國際合作，對黃胸鵐的保育至關重要。

持續的保育活動也引起了當地政府的重視。2024年初，尼泊爾政府發行了一款印有黃胸鵐的通行郵票，這不僅展示了尼泊爾的豐富生物多樣性，也反映了當地政府對保護黃胸鵐的堅定決心。

香港觀鳥會希望通過資助地區內不同的雀鳥保育項目，向公眾宣揚人鳥和諧、自然共存的信息。如欲了解更多「香港觀鳥會亞洲自然保育基金」詳情，歡迎瀏覽：https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/acf

Safeguarding Nepal's Yellow-breasted Bunting: Wintering Population Monitoring and Habitat Conservation Initiative through Community Collaboration

The last funded project of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society Asia Conservation Fund 2023/24, titled " Safeguarding Nepal's Yellow-breasted Bunting: Wintering Population Monitoring and Habitat Conservation Initiative through Community Collaboration," has been successfully completed.

Nepal is one of the important wintering grounds for the Critically Endangered (CR) Yellow-breasted Bunting, primarily wintering in the Terai and Midhill valleys, with varied habitats such as grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural fields providing ample food sources for them. From November 2023 to June 2024, researchers conducted field surveys in 12 key areas to comprehensively monitor the population distribution of Yellow-breasted Buntings during the wintering season. 1,122 individuals were recorded, with notable numbers in Pokhara (485), followed by Koshi (260) and Chitwan (146), which are encouraging figures. Agricultural lands, especially rice paddies, were the commonest habitats.

In addition to data collection and analysis, the research team organized a series of community engagement activities to enhance the conservation capacity, including workshops on illegal bird trade and hunting in collaboration with local government, and public awareness sessions on conservation actions for the Yellow-breasted Bunting, distributing promotion flyers at the same time. The findings emphasize the critical need for habitat protection, strengthened enforcement, and international collaboration. Continued efforts to reduce threats through community-based conservation, policy advocacy, and capacity building remain vital for the long-term survival of this iconic species.

Continuous conservation efforts have also attracted the attention of the local government. In early 2024, the Nepalese government issued a postage stamp featuring the Yellow-breasted Bunting, it is a symbolic milestone that highlights Nepal's rich biodiversity and reflects the government’s strong commitment to protecting the species.

The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society aims to promote the message of harmony between humans and birds, through supporting various bird conservation projects in the region. For more information about our work, please visit: https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/acf