Hong Kong is home to more than 580 bird species – a third of all the species found in China. Its location on the southern Chinese coast gives it a subtropical monsoon climate that nurtures a wide range of natural habitats. It’s also a stopover point along the East-Asian Australasian Flyway, which stretches from the northeastern tip of Siberia all the way down to the southernmost reaches of Australia and New Zealand. Many migrating birds pass through the city on their way south or north, with some spending their winters here.
Among the many interesting birds are those found on Lantau Island, whose 147 square kilometres are known for their rich biodiversity. In recent years, according to eBird, an online database of bird observations, more than 50 different species have been spotted on Lantau alone. And it’s in the heart of Lantau that a vibrant bird art initiative is taking flight. The Flock Project, a series of murals, has already caught the eye of locals and visitors with its goal of raising awareness about conservation.
The grey wagtail is one of the eight bird murals that can be currently found across Lantau Island. Courtesy May James.
The project is the brainchild of Dominic Johnson-Hill, a locally-based mixed media artist and Lantau resident, and Rob Aspire, a British artist who specialises in bird murals. They started in Johnson-Hill’s outdoor art space, the Wang Tong Art Walk, which he maintains on the walls of an abandoned building near his house in Mui Wo. “I felt that these birds look incredible and more at home painted on abandoned buildings [on Lantau] than they do in an urban setting. They seem to belong there,” he says.
The choice of birds came down to local ornithologist Paul Aston, who introduced Johnson-Hill to their colourful and varied world. After toying with the idea of painting local fauna like water buffaloes or insects, he decided birds would be most interesting, and he asked Aston to give him a list of his 10 favourite Lantau species. Last March, during the annual art festival HKWalls, Johnson-Hill sought out an artist who specialises in bird murals. His research eventually led him to discover Aspire on social media and he asked the British artist to create one at his house.
The red-billed blue magpie was Rob Aspire’s first mural on Lantau Island. Courtesy May James.
“He was basically a stranger at first,” Johnson-Hill says. But it didn’t take long for Aspire to ingratiate himself with the local community. “It was great to connect the subject with the area itself,” he says. “I got a great insight into life on Lantau Island meeting the community, chatting with photographers, shopowners and residents.”
The duo took each canvas and building and carefully thought about what birds would work best. “We had some birds in mind, but as we stood in front of the building, actually that bird might not work there – whether because it’s a little too colourful, intrusive or big,” says Johnson-Hill. Aspire’s first mural was of a red-billed blue magpie. A member of the crow family, this bird is known for its colourful plumage and an exceptionally long blue tail with a white tip.
The long-tailed shrike rooftop mural on Sunset Peak. Courtesy May James.
The pair was initially nervous about how their works would be received, especially since it was unclear who actually owned the abandoned buildings. But passersby and nearby residents seemed smitten by them. Johnson-Hill noticed drainage service workers and street sweepers pausing to take photos, and lately, they have been attracting visitors from across Hong Kong. “Every weekend there are people coming outside my house taking pictures of these bird murals,” he says enthusiastically with a broad smile. “Some people want to find them and go on these treasure hunts and ask when the next batch is coming on social media.”
The flock grows
The reception was so positive, Johnson-Hill decided to expand the Flock Project and Aspire returned in January to paint another seven murals depicting birds such as the white-throated kingfisher and yellow-browed warbler. Remarkably, he completed them over 10 days.
During that time, the creative duo encountered an unexpected challenge when he planned a mural of a long-tailed shrike on Sunset Peak. “There is a housing association that owns the little bungalows that are on Sunset Peak. One of the owners, Fred, wanted to do an art project involved with the houses,” explains Johnson-Hill. But he was worried that the mountain community would be overwhelmed by tourists coming to take pictures of the houses. So he suggested painting the bird not on the wall but on the roof. “You would have to stand back away from his house up on a hill to be able to see the artwork, which was a genius idea,” says Johnson-Hill.
Two birds adorn these walls in Mui Wo: Amur paradise flycatcher (left) and Swinhoe’s white-eye (right). Courtesy May James.
It took a whole day to paint the mural, with help from local residents, who helped Aspire carry his supplies of spray paint, food and water up the peak. The weather wasn’t kind: gusting winds made it increasingly difficult to fly a drone to keep track of the rooftop mural’s progress. But the result was worth it.
Future flight
Johnson-Hill has ambitious plans for the Flock Project. His goal this year is to bring Aspire back to paint 10 different predatory birds found on Lantau, including the serpent eagle, four different types of white egrets and the brown fish owl. Johnson-Hill aims to paint twice as many murals in 2026. He envisions one day working with more artists and leading fundraising efforts to support the project.
Daurian redstart. Courtesy May James.
What underpins the project is the idea that public art belongs to all. “I’m only painting something that already exists in Lantau Island, reflecting life back to the community and letting them enjoy their surroundings a bit more,” says Aspire. Johnson-Hill hopes that also translates into more awareness of Lantau’s birds and the importance of sustaining the island’s biodiversity.
Wildlife experts have already given their approval. “Murals and other forms of art can make the invisible visible, start a conversation, or spark curiosity,” says Alice Hughes, associate professor at the University of Hong Kong’s School of Biological Sciences. “Ultimately, we can only engage people with biodiversity or conservation if they are aware of it, and forms of art can be a great way to start that process.”
White-throated kingfisher. Courtesy May James.
Juha Merilä, chair professor of ecology and biodiversity in the same school, agrees about the importance of a community-driven initiative. “The biodiversity problems we are facing are huge, and solutions to resolve them are not easy to come by,” he says. “Grass root level work is important and admirable – hopefully the artists can make some difference.”
Discover the Flock Bird Mural Project’s sites here.