Shell Nature Watch - Butterfly Explorer

Activity Reviews 2005

1."Shell Nature Watch – Butterfly Explorer" Opering Ceremony Cum Butterfly Information

2.Hong Kong City Butterfly Election

3.Butterfly Photography Contest

4. Shell Butterfly Caring Day cum Butterfly Information Announcement

5. Butterfly Exploratory Overseas Tour

“Shell Nature Watch - Butterfly Explorer" Opening Ceremony cum Butterfly Information Announcement

Date :	16th April 2005 (Saturday)
Venue :	Lecture Theater, Hong Kong Science Museum
Time :	9:30 – 10:15am
Guests :	Dr. Sarah Liao, (Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works)
	Mr. Andy Ku, (Director of Shell Hong Kong Limited)
	Dr. Man Chi Sum, (Chief Executive Officer of Green Power)
	Dr. Cheng Luk Ki, (Division Head of Scientific Research & Conservation of Green Power)

On the ceremony, honorary patron of the program Dr. Sarh Liao and Mr. Andy Ku, director of Shell HK Ltd., presented commission certificates to 160 butterfly monitoring team members from 40 secondary schools. The teams, after a series of butterfly watch trainings, would be sent to various butterfly hot spots to conduct research on butterfly diversity.

In addition, the second-year program of "Shell Nature Watch - Butterfly Explorer" was also announced. Several large-scale public activities would be organized including Hong Kong City Butterfly Election and Butterfly Photography Contest. The public was encouraged to watch butterflies, protect local butterflies and the environment.

During the ceremony, Green Power released the result of a research study on local butterfly diversity in the last 30 years, revealing that number of butterfly species had grown as time passed. Since the 1970s, 42 non-suspected species had been found in Hong Kong. It was expected more would be recorded in future. Dr. Cheng Luk-ki of Green Power remarked that apart from the negligence arising from difficulties in identifying easily confused species, the main reasons for discovering the great number of butterfly species within such short period were the re-growing of vegetation, global warming and alien plant species being introduced. At the end, Dr. Luk commented that butterflies were species internationally recognized as having high research and conservation value. With their close relationship with the ecological environment, further discovery of butterfly species would indicate an improvement of the local environment and a change in the climate.

	Ceremony guests took photo with Butterfly Monitoring Team members..
	Dr. Cheng Luk-ki expected that newly recorded butterfly species in Hong Kong would continue to increase in future.

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Hong Kong City Butterfly Election

Different butterfly species have distinct characteristics. The objective of Hong Kong City Butterfly Election was to arouse public interest and awareness in butterflies through one-person-one-vote election of the most representative butterfly in Hong Kong. After a two-month period of voting, with over 16,000 people casting their ballot, Constable (Dichorragia nesimachus) won the title of Hong Kong City Butterfly with more than 3,500 votes. Constable is a strongly territorial species which flies in high speed and will drive away intruders. Its protective character seems to have won the hearts of the Hong Kong public.

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Butterfly Photography Contest

Butterfly Photography Contest aimed to encourage the public to appreciate and photograph the beauty of butterflies in the countryside, to get to know and concern about local butterfly ecology and nature. The Contest attracted over 1,300 entries within two months. All participants were awarded with a souvenir. Although the contest had ended, all the entries are still on display in "Hong Kong Butterfly Net" from where the public can freely download and share the beautiful photos.

Champion

Winner:
Pang Kwok Wing Dennis

Species name:
Common Five-ring
(Ypthima baldus)

First Runner-up

Winner: Pang Kwong On

Species name:
Yellow Coster (Acraea issoria)

Second Runner-up

Winner: Wong Tsz Cheung

Species name:
Red Helen (Papilio helenus)

The Most Popular Photo Online

Winner: Mr. Tam Kai Bun

Species name:
Spangle (Papilio protenor)

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Shell Butterfly Caring Day cum Butterfly Information Announcement

Date ： 31st July 2005 (Sunday)
Venue ： Peak
Time ： 9:30 - 11:15am
Guest ： Dr. Michael Chiu,
JP (Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, Environmental Protection Department)
Mr. Andy Ku
(Director of Shell Hong Kong Limited)
Dr. Man Chi Sum
(Chief Executive Officer of Green Power)
Dr. Cheng Luk Ki
(Division Head of Scientific Research & Conservation of Green Power)

Shell Butterfly Caring Day was planned as the largest single-day butterfly watch activity in the territory. Over 200 people were scheduled to watch butterflies together. Unfortunately, the activity was cancelled under a thunderstorm warning. Yet all participants still gathered together and sent their wish to their friends and relatives on postcards printed with Hong Kong City Butterfly, asking more people to protect and care for butterflies. During the event, the organizers also announced the results of Hong Kong City Butterfly Election and Butterfly Photography Contest.

In addition, Green Power announced a research study result on the relationship between Solar Terms and butterflies. Since Spring Commences (4th February) of 2005, Green Power had conducted the pioneer study in butterfly hotspots Shing Mun Reservoir and Tai Po au. Dr. Cheng Luk-ki of Green Power said that traditionally Chinese peasants had made use of solar terms to predict weather conditions and crop harvest. Solar terms can also be used to conduct ecological research, helping butterfly watchers to understand the active times and behavior patterns of butterflies and hence more closely observe their life cycle and behaviors. Dr. Cheng hoped that solar terms could be more widely used for butterfly watching.

	Parents and children sent out postcards asking their families and friends to protect and care for butterflies.
	Guests announced the result of Hong Kong City Butterfly Election. Constable, with its territorial character, won the title.

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Butterfly Exploratory Overseas Tours

Date ：22nd to 26th August 2005
Location ：Taiwan

Introduction：
After series of challenges including several months of butterfly watch training, butterfly database record and community promotion of butterfly conservation, the top five teams, among the 40 Butterfly Monitoring Teams, which had performed with excellency were invited to a 5-day, 4-night overseas exploratory tour to Taiwan. Under the guidance of Taiwan Butterfly Conservation Group, our members went from Taipei to Taichung to study Taiwan butterflies and ecology and exchange ideas with local butterfly conservation staff.

Participation School

Queen's College Old Boys' Association Secondary School

Kwun Tong Maryknoll College

St Stephen's Church College

Baptist Wing Lung Secondary School

True Light Middle School of Hong Kong

Tidbits of Taiwan Tour