Natures & Adventures Bird Watching - Page 1
From muddy mangroves to misty mountain ranges, Malaysia's diverse tropical landscape teems with hundreds of resident bird species.
The country's location on the Australasian cross-migratory paths also makes it a host to 120 or so migratory birds. All in all with over 600 species to be seen in the Peninsula and about 580 species in Malaysian Borneo, Malaysia has emerged as a bird watching heaven.
Over half of Malaysia's land mass is covered in rainforest environments or at least plantations. With the diversity of habitats, there are many places having abundant bird life to choose from. As the various bird-watching and nature sites around the country are easily accessible, it is easy to understand why bird-lovers are drawn to Malaysia.
AVIAN HABITATS Many birds are common to both Peninsula Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak but some species, known as endemics, are unique to a certain location, such as the Malayan Whistling Thrush in the Peninsula. On Borneo, there are over 30 endemics including the Borneo Blue Flycatcher and Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker in Sabah.
The Malaysian rainforests can be generally divided into three distinctive habitat types - coastal mangroves, lowland rainforests and montane or mountain forests. Swampy mangroves forest ecosystems where salt and freshwater environs meet on the coastline fringe are home to birds such as the Common Kingfisher.
Lowland rainforests, including freshwater swamp, peat and hill dipterocarp forests, remain the most extensive habitat for over 200 birds and are crucial to Storm's Stork and Green Imperial Pigeon. Mountain forest generally occur above an elevation of 900m, where species such as the Mountain Peacock-Pheasant and Mountain Blackeye thrive in the cool damp climates and stunted trees of these high altitude regions. While each habitat provides an excellent concentrated birding experience, in Malaysia it is not difficult to visit several sites in different ecological zones to enjoy the variation in bird life.
POPULAR BIRDING SITES With the increase in nature and environmental awareness, more and more sites have been identified where birds can be observed and there are also bird sanctuaries designated around the country.
For the serious enthusiasts, a comprehensive itinerary spanning the Peninsular and Borneo could include: Kuala Selangor, Fraser's Hill, Taman Negara, Bako National Park in Sarawak, Kinabalu Park and Danum Valley in Sabah.
For beginners or those who are limited to around Kula Lumpur, there are several excellent bird watching sites within a few hours drive from the city.
One new area that has made a name for itself in birding cycles is Putrajaya Wetlands, a human-enhanced wetland environment that has begun to attract both birds and bird-watchers, less than an hour south of Kuala Lumpur.
For a pleasant day trip, check out the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, a mangrove swamp along the west coast that supports 130 bird species and some seasonal migrants including the rare Spoonbilled Sandpiper. Fraser's Hill and Cameron Highlands both offer lush green hill surroundings with panoramic views and hiking trails where bird life abounds. Those with more time may want to travel further inland into Malaysia's premier national park, Taman Negara, where dense ancient lowland forests are home to over 300 bird species.
Another popular site is Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary on the Perak coast, where endangered Milky Storks congregate. Over in Borneo, The Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary, a feeding ground for many species of resident birds and several migratory species from Northern Asia is easily accessible from the capital of Sabah. Kinabalu Park, a World Heritage Site with its own endemics such as the Kinabalu Warbler, is just two hours away from the city. Many good birding sites can be found in Sarawak, such as Gunung Mulu National Park. Sarawak endemics can also be found, such as Hose's Broadbill in the Kelabit Highlands.
Natures & Adventures Bird Watching - Page 1
