>>Eco Expert

Students: Hello, Mr. Lin.
Mr. Lin: Hello kids. Welcome. Please have some snacks. Student:Sir, where do you work?
Mr. Lin: I work at home and in community college. Student:About how many kinds of butterflies are found in Plum Tree Creek?
Mr. Lin: 101 species are recorded so far. There should be more waiting to be found.  
Student:For what reasons the butterflies would not come to Plum Tree Creek area? Mr. Lin: Have you ever walked along Plum Tree Creek? You walked from estuary to upstream, right? 
Student:We walked from the origin to the estuary.
Mr. Lin: From the origin?　Oh, so you finished all. The origin area is less polluted. It’s not the same for the downstream. The food those larvas of butterflies love to eat becoming lesser when it comes to downstream. So you will find if you walk from bottom to the top, forest become richer, environment become better and more species of butterflies could be found. Student:What kinds of butterflies show up at upstream of Plum Tree Creek?
Mr. Lin: Plum Tree Creek is not quite long. And butterflies has wings so they could fly to anywhere but if we observe near the garden where grows vegetables and fruit, there will be more butterflies which able to adapt such environments could be found. Walk to the top, there will be butterflies of the forest, such as kallima inachis, which doesn’t like artificial environment. But there are also butterflies which preferred in an artificial environment, we can see white butterflies in this season, it often appear in the vegetable garden. Have you ever seen it before? So it depends on the species of butterfly, some are more in upstream area and some only could be seen at downstream. Student:In which area of Plum Tree Creek has the richest ecology? Mr. Lin:
In terms of plant and animal ecology, natural environment must be more. Walking by ourselves, I think it’s the midstream, where the neighbors of Ming-Sheng Vil. Could see the Miao-Jue Temple . It’s a good place for observing butterflies. 
Student:How about the condition of birds?
Mr. Lin: Birds? Quite nice. Cause Plum Tree Creek itself has many types of environments, like the estuary near Metro stations belongs to wetland environments, so some migratory birds, large egrets and herons could be seen. When comes to farmland, there will be some crested mynah bird and Black Drongo. If you got chance to go into the forest, you might see Muller's Barbet and Crested Serpent Eagle. Eagles show up in Plum Tree Creek area quite often. They show up when the weather is nice. Once I even saw Crested Goshawk, We cannot say it’s a very rare and very special bird, but it is generally naturalistic observation. Student: How long have you been observed Plum Tree Creek? Mr. Lin: For real observation, about one and half year. We began doing record since the July of the year before. Before that we just observed without recording.
Student: If the Plum Tree Creek is polluted, will it affect the number of butterflies here? Mr. Lin: If it is the water been polluted, it won’t necessarily effects butterflies. Because butterflies and water are not associated directly. The larvas of butterfly eat leaves, flowers and fruit, so they are more associated with plants. Butterfly habitat in forest so are less related with water. However, water pollution would effect the growth of plants, so the effect is mediate.
Student: What kind of butterfly often can be seen in Plum Tree Creek? Mr. Lin: Because butterflies are also seasonal. Some are easier to see in certain season, while others may be all year round. So it is hard to say what's the most common. But through our observations and surveys, you'll know what kinds of butterflies show up in which month and what butterflies are here all year round. Like blue butterfly, which is all year round, of course lesser in winter but still visible. So it’s all about the season, as recently, White Butterfly is the most. 
Student: Based on your observations, where do birds mostly be founded?
Mr. Lin: It depends on which kind of bird. Like some of the ardeidae birds, they like waters and wetlands so they are mostly seen at the downstream. There are farmlands in the midstream so you’ll see some crested myna, Chinese bulbul and Black Bulbul. When it comes to upstream, with the cleaner water, black wagtails are often seen there. Students: How many species of birds were found in Plum Tree Creek area?
Mr. Lin: We have done some research and got statistics, I’m not sure about the actual number. But at least 40 or more has been recorded. Students: Does the development of Plum Tree Creek affect habitat of birds and butterflies?
Mr. Lin: Of course. If the food for the larva remains no more, the environment is not suitable for growing up, they will choose to fly to another place to live. Students:Thank you for being interviewed.