Malaysia: New paradise for birdwatchers

Leo Arrokiasammy The Star 11 Mar 12;

MALACCA: While Tanjung Tuan continues playing host to thousands of migratory raptors and other birds, the Malacca government is seeking to promote Kampung Pengkalan in Machap here as a similar tourist destination.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam urged the state Tourism Department and other state government departments to work towards promoting Machap for this purpose.

“I am sure birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts are willing to make the trip just to catch a glimpse of these birds in both areas,” he said yesterday after launching the Raptor Watch (RW) event organised by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).

The new site, he said, could be an impetus for the state tourism industry, adding that he wanted Machap to be placed in the calendar as another site for the RW.

Yesterday's event saw thousands of nature lovers gathering to get a glimpse of the raptors, which are birds of prey such as hawks, eagles, falcons, vultures and owls.

MNS organised the RW 2012 for the 13th consecutive year. Such events benefit both Port Dickson and Malacca in terms of tourism.

Also present yesterday was RW ambassador and actress Maya Karin.

MNS president Dr Maketab Mohammed said that since the 1960s and1970s, the number of raptors sighted was reported to exceed 300,000.

This year's event was also witnessed by the members of the society's Asian partners the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, Nature Society of Singapore, Chinese Wild Bird Federation of Taiwan, Kenting National Park Taiwan and WildBird Life Club of Philippines.

Dr Maketab said RW's main objective was to conserve birds and their habitat and to educate the public on the spectacular migratory phenomenon.

“We want these birds to keep returning to peninsular Malaysia, which is the stopover for thousands of raptor species on their journey back home to Siberia, China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan and Indochina as winter draws to an end,” he added.

Malacca woos bird lovers
Hani Maketab New Straits Times 14 Mar 12;

BIRD lovers in Malacca now have a new place to visit their feathered friends after the state government declared eight hectares of open land in Kampung Pengkalan near here as the Pengkalan Bird Sanctuary.

The area has been home to more than 2,000 birds of various species since early 2010.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the area would be developed as a new eco-tourism product in the state.

He said that according to initial studies, as many as six species of birds were spotted, such as the black-crowned night heron, pink-necked green pigeon, baya weaver, lesser coucal, purple heron and yellow-vented bulbul.

"These birds have been in the area since January 2010, but only in small numbers.

"We did not expect the birds to stick around but it appears that they like it here and have decided to settle down," he said after a visit to the area yesterday.

Ali was accompanied by Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Malacca/Negri Sembilan chairman Lim Ming Hui.

Ali said he had directed the Tourism Promotion Division to begin efforts to promote the bird sanctuary to the public.

He said the area would also be included in the Malacca Tourism Calendar starting next year to spread awareness about the bird sanctuary.

"The state government will also organise a photography and video competition to further promote it. I hope that BPP, MNS, the Alor Gajah Municipal Council and the Wildlife and National Parks Department will work together to organise a week-long contest starting today (yesterday).

"The first prize winner will receive RM1,500, the second, RM1,000 and the third, RM500."

Lim said state MNS volunteers would monitor bird activities in the area to learn more about them and gather data.

"So far, I can confirm the migratory birds that breed here are local species found around the country.

"Typically, these birds will fly around Peninsular Malaysia all year round."