Raptor watch returns to Tanjung Tuan, Malacca

Martin Carvalho and Alicia Yeoh, The Star 13 Mar 10;

TANJUNG TUAN: Bird lovers are in for a treat during Malaysian Nature Society’s (MNS) Raptor Watch at Tanjung Tuan this weekend with the spotting of a large number of migratory birds this season.

Some 21,613 raptors were spotted by MNS volunteers at the Tanjung Tuan’s lighthouse over a 13-day period from February 23 compared to 37,176 birds spotted over a 65-day period last year.

MNS head of communications Andrew Sebastian said that more migratory birds were expected to fly over Tanjung Tuan this season as they make their way from the colder northern region to warmer climates in the south.

“We would like to see a spike in the number of birds this year and hope avid bird watchers will join us during our weekend programme here,” he said during the unveiling of MNS’ Raptor Watch t-shirt here recently.

Local and foreign bird watchers will take part in the two-day programme starting today which includes talks by professional bird watchers from the Philippines, Thailand, China and Japan.

Members of the public would have the opportunity to participate in activities such as nature walks up Tanjung Tuan, arts and crafts workshops, games and lucky draws, he added.

Present during the ceremony was MNS Raptor Watch ambassador Maya Karin who urged locals to volunteer for worthy causes such as environment- and nature-conservation programmes.

“I am glad to bring these magical and beautiful creatures to the attention of many and be able to talk to kids about nature and the environment,” she said, adding this was her third year running as ambassador for the MNS programme.

Meanwhile, it was double delight for 18-year-old Joyce Kua Poh Ying of Satio College, Petaling Jaya, when she bagged the Best T-shirt Design award for this year’s Raptor Watch.

Joyce, a nature lover who has a keen eye for birds, was glad to contribute towards creating better awareness for MNS programmes particularly among the younger generation.

Her design emerged tops from 30 designs submitted by college students from around the country.

Her colourful creation showed the outline of a large raptor in a collage of a variety of birds.

“It took me a few days to think of a suitable design. I initially thought of creating a circle of a flock of birds but my lecturer suggested that it would be better if my motif was that of a bird in flight,” she said.