ENG-1950 — Page 151

HERONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES

The large and cosmopolitan family of Ardeidae, which includes herons and egrets, has a number of handsome easily recognized species to be seen in the New Territories. The best way to catch a glimpse of these birds is to take a walk beside the creeks of Yuen Long toward the flat well-watered paddy land forming the southern shore of Deep Bay.

Herons are fairly large birds with long bills and legs, and in flight their characteristic attitude is with head drawn back and legs trailing behind. The slow regular beats of their broad rounded wings make their rate of progress seem slower than it really is.

Although they spend much of their time on the ground, they also perch freely on trees particularly in Spring at the time of communal nesting. On the marsh herons are often seen standing erect and motionless, frequently. on one leg, with head sunken between rounded shoulders. When alerted by suspicion the long neck is stretched upwards with only a slight curve.

When fishing the birds walk slowly and noiselessly along in shallow water with body held less upright than when at rest and with neck curved ready to seize its prey.

At other times a bird may stand motionless in shallow water waiting for a fish to pass within easy reach. Fish thus caught are invariably swallowed head first. Should the fish prove too large for the bird to manage, it is carried ashore and pecked at until lumps of a suitable size are freed. A wide range of food is taken including frogs, rats and even birds including young coot, moorhen, pheasant and domestic duckling.

An interesting feature of the Ardeidae is the presence of well- developed powder-down patches on the sides of rump and breast. These patches resemble a fluffy powder puff and their function appears to be water-proofing of feathers and the removal of fish slime. The bill is rubbed gently up and down in the patches until it is coated with powder when it is used for preening, being drawn over the feathers as if to spread the powder lightly.

Gregariousness is typical of the family, and when breeding in suitable localities they form colonies varying from half-a-dozen to many hundreds, mixed species nesting in harmony.

The number of breeding herons in the New Territories has recently declined due to the dwindling number of really isolated spots in the area. The commonest breeding variety to-day is the Chinese Pond Heron, easily recognized by his rich rufous head and neck with, on the male, a distinct crest of elongated feathers and the back, tail, wings and entire under parts pure white.

The Eastern Purple Heron with a wing span of five feet and at a short distance an almost black appearance as it flaps heavily above the reed beds, is another handsome bird of this family. At closer quarters the prominent streak of black from eye to upper breast and the purple maroon of breast and under parts can be seen.

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