Difficulty: Explorer (Level 1)
Hong Kong has more than 7 million people, but we are only a small part of the environment. There are many animals and plants to discover.
More than 580 types of birds have been spotted in the city. This represents a third of the total species recorded in all of China. There are also about 3,300 types of plants.
Many birds stop in Hong Kong while migrating. For example, the Eurasian whimbrel heads to the coasts of Africa and Australia during winter. They can be seen in Hong Kong’s mudflats along the way. You can recognise them by their whistles.
You can also spot beautiful flowers. Look out for the Hong Kong orchid tree’s flowers, which inspired the city’s flag; it has bright pink petals. You can also look for the Hong Kong camellia with its bright red flowers.
Make a bird feeder
Materials
-
a bagel
-
peanut butter (without added sugar or oils)
-
birdseed
-
knife
-
string
Instructions
-
Ask a parent to cut the bagel in half horizontally. You should have two thinner, circular pieces.
-
Take one half and put a string through the hole. Tie the string at one end. Make sure the loop is big enough to hang the bagel from something.
-
Cover one side of the bagel half with peanut butter.
-
Pour the birdseed into a large bowl. Dip the side of the bagel covered in peanut butter in the birdseed. Coat it with the seeds.
-
Find a spot outside your window or on a tree to hang the feeder!
Winter flowers on a nature walk
Materials
-
an easy nature trail
-
a smartphone
-
an adult
Instructions
-
Head to a nearby nature trail with an adult.
-
While you walk, pay attention to your surroundings. When you see a flower, try to guess what it is. Take note of its shape, colour, texture and size.
-
Take out your phone and open Google Lens. Use Google Lens to snap a photo of the flower. Then, read the information about it online.
