It won’t be long before you notice large birds of prey circling above Hong Kong’s harbour. These are Black-Eared Kites, and are also common above Hong Kong Island. They don’t restrict their interest to wooded areas, and if you work near a window you’ll likely see them swooping past your building. If you are a more serious birdwatcher, head for the Mai Po marshes. This area of wetlands is an important part of many birds’ migrations from northern China, Mongolia and Siberia. Some species spend the winter in the Mai Po area, while others use it as a feeding and resting area before continuing their journey. The WWF reports that over 340 species of birds have been recorded in these wetlands.