The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) is an environmental non-governmental organization

Non-governmental organization

A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...

 dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats in Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

, a territory on the southern coast of China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

. It is a BirdLife International

BirdLife International

BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...

 affiliated organisation. The emblem

Emblem

An emblem is a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept — e.g., a moral truth, or an allegory — or that represents a person, such as a king or saint.-Distinction: emblem and symbol:...

 of the HKBWS is the Chinese Egret

Chinese Egret

The Chinese Egret or Swinhoe's Egret, Egretta eulophotes, is a full-crested, white egret with yellow bill. It breeds in Russia, North Korea, South Korea and mainland China, and then migrates south through Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia...

 which visits Hong Kong on migration and used to breed in the territory.

Activities

The HKBWS was formed in 1957. It publishes the annual Hong Kong Bird Report as well as regular bulletins. As of 2011 it has over 1000 members, employs four full-time staff, holds regular meetings, conducts surveys and organises birdwatching

Birdwatching

Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...

 tours. It is involved in the conservation management of the Long Valley

Long Valley, Hong Kong

Long Valley is a wetland in the Sheung Shui of the New Territories in Hong Kong. The wetland was originally formed by the rice paddies between Shek Sheung River and Sheung Yue River....

 agricultural wetland where it monitors the birds. Its research programs include monitoring waterfowl at the Mai Po Marshes

Mai Po Marshes

Mai Po Marshes is a nature reserve located near Yuen Long in Hong Kong. It is part of Deep Bay, an internationally significant wetland that is actually a shallow estuary, at the mouths of Sham Chun River, Shan Pui River and Tin Shui Wai Nullah...

 and Deep Bay

Deep Bay, Hong Kong

Deep Bay is a bay off the northwest coast of Lau Fau Shan, Hong Kong. It is surrounded to the north by Shenzhen proper and west by the peninsula of Nantau, China. It is also known as Hau Hoi Wan in Hong Kong, and Shenzhen Bay in China.-Name:...

, reviewing Hong Kong bird records and maintaining a checklist, studying the wintering ecology of Black-faced Spoonbill

Black-faced Spoonbill

The Black-faced Spoonbill has the most restricted distribution of all spoonbills, and it is the only one currently regarded as endangered. Confined to the coastal areas of eastern Asia, it seems that it was once common throughout its area of distribution...

s and conducting breeding bird surveys at the Tai Po Kau Forest Reserve

Tai Po Kau Special Area

Tai Po Kau Special Area is a wilderness preserve in Tai Po area of the New Territories in northern Hong Kong. It is noted by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society and others as one of the best locations for seeing forest birds in Hong Kong....

.