Malaysia: Enraptured by raptors

New Straits Times 15 Mar 12;

Hundreds of bird-watchers converged on Port Dickson during Raptor Watch Week. Low Mei May joined in to scan the skies

THERE was almost a no-show by raptors at the launch of Raptor Watch in Tanjung Tuan, Port Dickson last Saturday. But of the dozen or so spotted, one gave an aerial performance that visitors will not forget.

The white-bellied sea eagle circled over Ilham Resort with a metre-long fish in its talons.

Raptors need thermals to soar hundreds and even thousands of metres up in the sky and glide across the Straits Of Malacca to Tanjung Tuan, Port Dickson, where the birds congregate yearly before continuing their journey to north Asia.

On Saturday, the thermals were missing and so were the big birds of prey.

“But there’s no need to worry,” said Malaysian Nature Society president Professor Dr Maketab Mohamed. “This just means there are thousands of raptors in Pulau Rupat, Indonesia, waiting to soar over here.”

One year, Maketab said, more than 10,000 birds soared over the straits to Tanjung Tuan in a single day. “I don’t know how they counted,” he said in awe of the MNS members who have been counting the raptors for the last 13 years.
And he was proven right. Sunday was much hotter, with very few clouds. By noon, more than 2,000 birds were spotted. By evening, 5,300 birds were counted soaring on thermals to reach our skies.

Raptor Watch is a huge event in Port Dickson, drawing tourists from all over the country, and even from abroad. The birds fly here not over one weekend but over a period of about four months, from late January.
The migratory raptors flee the winter in Siberia, China, Korea and Japan towards the end of the year before returning in spring. Raptor Watch Week is also one of Malaysia’s premier eco-tourism events.
Although there was a near no-show by the raptors on Saturday, Raptor Watch week was by no means a washout.

Playing host for the 13th consecutive time, the MNS had lined up many nature-related activities, including talks, to promote eco-tourism. These included Nature Walk, Seashore Walk and Mangrove Walk.
Since February, more than 23,000 raptors had been spotted by counters stationed at the Tanjung Tuan lighthouse. The counters will continue their labour of love until April 1, for a total of 42 days. Last year, 58,000 raptors were spotted over 43 days flying over Port Dickson.