Ahad, 2 Oktober 2011

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The popularity of bird-watching | BorneoPost Online | Borneo <b>...</b>

Posted: 01 Oct 2011 07:43 PM PDT

by Cheong Ah Kwan. Posted on October 2, 2011, Sunday

IDEAL HABITAT: The start of a mountain trail which provides opportunities to see Sarawak's birds.

THERE are thousands of groups dedicated to bird-watching all over the world. These birding groups range from small, informal gatherings of friends to large organisations that hold annual conventions. There is no doubt that bird-watching has become an increasingly popular activity enjoyed by many. In the United States alone, birding is now a hobby for more than 45 million Americans and the number of birders is continuously on the rise.

In Malaysia, birding has also become a popular hobby. The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) is instrumental in promoting the activity and has even managed to put Fraser's Hill on the map as an international birding destination. Among the better-known birding festivals celebrated in Malaysia each year are the Raptor Watch, Festival of Wings and Fraser's Hill International Bird Race.

For the past 11 years, MNS in partnership with the Melaka state government has organised an event, in March or April, known as Raptor Watch at Tanjung Tuan, Port Dickson. The event, aimed at raising awareness on the conservation of raptors and their habitats, has gained a growing number of followers over the years with bird-watchers from all over the world coming to watch the thousands of oriental honey buzzards and Japanese sparrowhawks make their annual migratory flight home to the north.

MNS hosts the Festival of Wings, a celebration of local and migratory birds, in October at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park. Besides bird-watching, the event offers an appealing day out for families and is fast gaining popularity among locals.

In 1988, Fraser's Hill held its inaugural bird race with just five teams of three. Yes, 15 participants in all. No one could have guessed then that the event would take off to become a top tourism product. The Fraser's Hill International Bird Race 2008, the 21st in its series, had well over 200 teams! The event has certainly grown by leaps and bounds and is now a major attraction on the tourism calendar.

The Sarawak Bird Race, a newcomer, which is making waves, held its inaugural race in October 2008 at the Borneo Highlands Resort in the Penrissen Range. This year, it will be held on Oct 30. There, however, is a new twist. A series of workshops, talks and walks introducing the world of birds will be held at Permai Rainforest Resort on Saturday, Oct 29, before the flag off of the race on Sunday morning at the Borneo Highlands Resort.

In addition, other activities such as guided walks and photography exhibition are planned for non-racers on Sunday. The Saturday and Sunday activities are golden opportunities to glimpse into the world of birds while being guided by birding enthusiasts from far and near.

The Borneo Highlands Resort provides easy access to the Penrissen Range, which is recognised internationally as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Bird Life International, a global partnership of conservation groups. Recognised IBA areas have large numbers of threatened or endemic birds and are key biodiversity areas.

In this mountainous region, which marks Sarawak's border with West Kalimantan, about 150 species of birds (or slightly over one quarter of birds species found in Sarawak) have so far been sighted by MNS members. It is home to eight endemic bird species: Bornean barbet, blue-banded pitta, chestnut-crested yuhina, yellow-rumped flowerpecker, black-sided flowerpecker, pygmy white-eye, mountain black-eye, and dusky munia.

For experienced and novice birders, the upcoming Sarawak Bird Race will provide opportunities to see species they have never encountered and a chance to see the unexpected.

The workshops, talks and walks on Saturday, Oct 29, at Permai Rainforest Resort, along with the Sarawak Bird Race 2011 at the Borneo Highlands Resort, will take you from the sea to the mountains, while introducing you to the world of birds and birders.
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