APPENDIX A4.4
Black-faced Spoonbill
This species is sensitive to intense human activities; especially those involving loud or irregular noise generation. Some habituation is predicted during the operational phase. However, this species prefers larger fish ponds which are separated from intense human activities by (at least) one intervening pond. There is some evidence that this species is particularly sensitive to disturbance at roost sites. The same roost sites are often occupied in succeeding years. These are usually separated from human or terrestrial animal presence by open water; the roosts themselves may be in open water or on bare bunds or islands. Black-faced Spoonbills are somewhat less sensitive to disturbance when feeding on drained ponds; at such locations they typically exhibit similar responses to human activities as the larger Ardeids (which are usually also present in such circumstances).
Greater Spotted Eagle
This is a large raptor species which ranges over a wide area and which regularly uses the airspace above otherwise unsuitable habitat such as open storage areas or major roads (pers. obs.). Accordingly exclusion or reduced densities refer, in the present context, to exclusion or reduced density of foraging or roosting birds. Exclusion and maximum reduced density distances during the construction phase are based on observations of reactions to a variety of human activities, whilst, for the operational phase, these are predicted based on the known avoidance of large developed areas by this species. It is known from elsewhere in its range that this species is particularly sensitive to disturbance (Collar et al. 1994).
Imperial Eagle
This is a large raptor species which ranges over a wide area and which regularly uses the airspace above otherwise unsuitable habitat such as open storage areas or major roads (pers. obs.). Accordingly exclusion or reduced densities refer, in the present context, to exclusion or reduced density of foraging or roosting birds. Exclusion and maximum reduced density distances during the construction phase are based on observations of reactions to a variety of human activities, whilst, for the operational phase, these are predicted on the known avoidance of large developed areas by this species.
Japanese Yellow Bunting
ERM (1999) listed this species from the Lok Ma Chau area but not as utilising fish ponds. However it has been observed utilising fish pond bunds elsewhere in the Deep Bay area (pers. obs.). The exclusion distance and the maximum distance over which density is reduced for this species is expected to be lower during the operational phase because, as is typical of small passerines, this species would be expected to become habituated to regular disturbance, will benefit from screen planting and will be relatively little affected by the massing effect of the station building.
Schrenck's Bittern
This species is not listed as being present at Lok Ma Chau or as using fishponds by ERM (1999). However it is included here because it will make use of the proposed habitats to be created (marsh and reedbeds) where it will show rather little reaction to the development because of its cryptic behaviour.
Red-billed
Starling
Response to during the construction phase is predicted based on observations of starling flocks in proximity to larger scale engineering operations. Since this species selects open areas and is characteristically absent from ponds in immediate proximity to vertical landscape features relatively little habituation is anticipated during the operational phase compared with most passerine species.
Great Cormorant
Observational evidence suggests that this species is highly vulnerable to disturbance involving extensive visible human activity such as engineering operations. Whilst it will be less affected by operational activities (especially if no humans are visible) it is likely to avoid using ponds immediately adjacent to the development as a consequence of the building's mass. The suggested values for construction and operational phase disturbance impacts reflect these differences.
Chinese Pond Heron
During the construction phase it is assumed that most birds will remain at least one pond away from intense human activities, but during the operational phase disturbance effects assume rapid habituation, utilisation of created habitats and an opportunistic response to reduced numbers of more sensitive Ardeids.
Great Egret
This species is very sensitive to intense human activities; especially those involving loud or irregular noise generation. Some habituation is predicted during the operational phase. However, this species prefers larger fish ponds which are separated from intense human activities by (at least) one intervening pond. Disturbance effects are likely to be exacerbated by fragmentation and flightline disruption. In addition, this species does not show much habituation to occasional unusual sounds so will probably remain sensitive to any irregular activities during the operational phase if these result in loud or unusual noises.
Little Egret
The factors discussed for Great Egret also apply to this species, and responses by most birds are expected to be similar. However, particularly when feeding as isolated individuals, Little Egrets are slightly more tolerant of human activities; accordingly the exclusion zones have been correspondingly reduced.
Common Teal
Since this species probably feeds primarily at night, the ascribed values are somewhat speculative. If there are bright lights around the development the exclusion and disturbance zones may be significantly increased. However, as a working assumption it is assumed that, whilst construction activities are underway birds will remain at least one fishpond away from development activities but (since this species is particularly sensitive to the sight of humans) will show some habituation to more regular disturbance during the operational phase, when overt human presence which be much lower.
Eurasian Coot
Impacts during the construction phase are likely to be of a similar order to other medium-sized waterbirds. However, this species will make use of created habitats (especially reedbeds) and will benefit from the screening which they create. Accordingly impacts during the operational phase are predicted to be relatively small.
Black-winged Stilt
In Hong Kong this species appears to retain a fairly constant escape distance of one small pond or will utilise the opposite side of the largest ponds to that where human activities are occurring. Direct observations relating to other developments suggest that it will show significant habituation to regular disturbance sources during the operational phase and will continue to be deterred by the physical proximity of a large structure.
Grey Heron
Factors affecting the response of this species are similar to other larger Ardeids but observations suggests that this species is amongst the most sensitive to human activities and the most likely to be deterred by the physical mass of the building during the operational phase.
Northern Hobby
Included here because this SCC occurs within the Lok Ma Chau area as defined by ERM (1999) and contra ERM (1999) it is considered that this species frequently hunts over fishponds (pers obs.). During the construction phase the species will avoid the noise and human activities associated with the development and a residual exclusion are will remain during the operational phase as this species rarely hunts in close proximity to large man-made vertical features.
Pheasant-tailed Jacana*
Disturbance is expected most marked during the construction phase as this species is expected to use the created wetlands habitats which will provide the conditions and dense cover which this species favours. However, compared to the previous species, Pheasant-tailed Jacana is slightly more intolerant of human activities, having a greater flushing distance, and values have been adjusted accordingly.
Watercock*
Disturbance is expected most marked during the construction phase as this species is expected to use the created wetlands habitats which will provide the conditions and dense cover which this species favours. The level of tolerance of human activities is expected to be similar to Pheasant-tailed Jacana during the construction phase but higher during the operational phase as it will benefit more from the cover to be provided as a part of the mitigation measures.
Black-naped Oriole
Projected disturbance impacts on this passerine species reflect the likelihood that it is relatively shy and will derive relatively little benefit from the screening effect of the habitats to be formed because of its arboreal habitat preferences.
Common Snipe *
Whilst an adverse response to disturbance is anticipated during construction, this species is expected to show no relatively little adverse effect once the operational phase commences as it will benefit from the additional cover to be created as a part of the mitigation measures.
Pintail Snipe*
Whilst an adverse response to disturbance is anticipated during construction, this species is expected to show no relatively little adverse effect once the operational phase commences as it will benefit from the additional cover to be created as a part of the mitigation measures.
Swinhoe's Snipe*
Whilst an adverse response to disturbance is anticipated during construction, this species is expected to show no relatively little adverse effect once the operational phase commences as it will benefit from the additional cover to be created as a part of the mitigation measures.
Richard's Pipit
This open-country passerine is expected to show significant avoidance of areas of intense human activity during the construction phase. It is unlikely, however, to be particularly sensitive to operational activities and will derive some benefit from the habitats to be created.
Bluethroat*
This rather cryptic species is likely to show significant avoidance of construction activities.
It is unlikely, however, to be particularly sensitive to operational activities and will derive some benefit from the habitats to be created.
Common Stonechat*
This species is perhaps marginally more tolerant of human activities than the Bluethroat but otherwise its response to the development and use of created habitats is expected to be similar.
Zitting Cisticola*
Because of its ability to tolerate more disturbed and degraded habitats than most passerine species considered here, a relatively low disturbance impact is predicted during the construction period. During the operational phase, its response is predicted to be similar to the preceding species.
Chestnut Bittern
This species rarely uses fishponds but is included here because it is listed from Lok Ma Chau by ERM (1999) and will make use of the habitats to be created where it will show rather little avoidance of the development area because of its cryptic habits.
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler*
Because of its cryptic behaviour this species is expected to show relatively little avoidance of the area during the construction phase. As with the other small passerines which use marshes and reedbeds it will derive some benefit from the habitats to be created and disturbance impacts during the operational phase will be small.
* The predicted impacts for these species are for the station site and the at-grade section of the line. Since these species will also use freshwater wetlands, there is no exclusion distance for the elevated sections of the line where these species are expected to use the area under the line to some extent.