This Summer we are back out for a couple of session of tracking our beautiful Terns!

As mentioned in previous years, Hong Kong has three species of Terns that breed in Hong Kong. These are: Roseate, Black-naped and Bridled. Though their breeding areas are fairly well understood, where they go during winter is less studied. To tackle this, HKBWS has teamed up with Swire Trust to tag our breeding terns. Please note, all tagging activities are carried out by licensed professionals, who hold the necessary permits to alight onto breeding islands, that are off-limits to the public during the breeding season to minimise disturbance to the breeding birds.

So, the team set off in the early sunrise, with the goal of tagging the young Bridled Terns, and putting satellite tags on the adults. We choose to use leg flags on young birds, that cannot carry the satellite tags. These flags are very easily identified by bird watchers, and year on year we receive reports of birds coming back to Hong Kong/South China to breed, even up to 10 years later!

For our larger, adult birds, we are able to safely attach GPS tags, like a little backpack. All tags are weighed to ensure they are below 3% of the birds’ bodyweights, thus causing minimal irritation to the individual. These tags will give us real-time location data on our birds, and eventually naturally drop off.

Ringing also allows us to study these birds up-close, and study their feathers and moult phenology better. After a hot and sweaty session, we left the birds to their breeding, as we anxiously awaited any resightings/GPS data. Let’s hope we can find out more about these birds together!

Daily Totals

*Please note that all wild birds, their nests, and eggs are highly protected (under Wild Animals Protection Ordinate, Cap. 170) in Hong Kong. It is an offence to willfully disturb, take, remove, or injure wild birds or their nests/eggs. The actions described here were undertaken by trained professionals holding the necessary licenses and permits issued by the AFCD.*