The Raptor Watch for 2009 was held for two days (Sat. March 14 and Sun. March 15). This annual event organised by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)held at Tanjung Tuan (Cape Rachado) Melaka was to provide the opportunity for bird lovers and the interested members of the public to participate in one of the nature's unique phenomenon of raptor birds migrating back to the north (returning to their original nesting places in Siberia, Mongolia, China and Japan) after wintering in Sumatra.
2. I decided to rush back from Pulau Banding Resort in the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex after attending a meeting of the BOT of the Pulau Banding Foundation held on March 14)to participate in this yearly event of the Society. It was on Sunday morning (March 15)that I drove up to Tg. Tuan taking around one hour to get there from Bandar Baru Bangi where I live. From the number of cars that were parked around the hotel area where the birdwatching activity was centred, the event once again was getting the good response from the public.
3. The largest no. of participants were the secondary school students who are members of School Nature Clubs from schools as far as Perlis and Kedah. The students were taken on nature walks in the Tg. Tuan Forest Reserve with guides who briefed them on the plant and animal species that are found in the forest and the history of the oldest lighthouse in the country, which is a landmark of the Forest Reserve. The students participated at the various events organised for them such as the Run and the quizzes pertaining to the natural heritage and the phenomenon of the raptor bird migration.
4. On arrival I decided to walk up the hill to the lighthouse. Although I have participated with almost all the Raptor Watch Event since its inception six (?)years ago, I did not have the opportunity of trekking up to the lighthouse. The forest on both sides of the road leading to the lighthouse can be considered as virgin. There are still very tall trees. At the lighthouse a few young people were strategically located with their binoculars trained in the direction of the Straits of Malacca and the Island of Sumatra beyond where the raptors were coming from. They were volunteers who had given the time to participate in counting the no. of raptors crossing over, as part of the study to gather more information on this natural phenomenon. I was told that so far, the no. that have been recorded for the previous day and in the morning were few.
5. The lighthouse is the oldest in the country, constructed by the Portuguese in 1520. The waters around it is said to be the graveyard for ships. It is also believed that a grave of the founder of the Malacca Sultanate, Parameswara, is located here and also that of the rock imprint of Hang Tuah's right foot.
6. Why are the raptors flying to Tg. Tuan?. Tg. Tuan or Cape Rachado is actually the narrowest land point between mainland Asia and Sumatra (20.5 nautical miles).
7. I joined the centre stage on the ground, where around it, were stalls - the main stall were by the MNS Birding Group who are the key players in the organisation of the Event. The Kedah Branch stall was busy with the signing campaign for the conservation and protection of the remaining Forest areas in the Ulu Muda and other forests in the State- a worthy cause. A stall was marketing herbal plants and others, promoting products related to bird watching such as binoculars.
8. I was invited to give away prizes for the various competitions. The prizes for the Run was contributed by IJM and for the quizzes Body Shop. As prizes were being given to the winners there were excitement as group of raptors were spotted coming with many binoculars 0f the participants aimed at them. The main species seen that day was the Crested Honey Buzzard. Other species that have been observed on this migratory trail include Oriental Honey Buzzard, Chinese Goshawk, Grey-Faced Buzzard, Japanese Sparrow Hawk and the Black Baza.
9. The Raptor Watch is attracting the attention of many birders from all over the world. This year we saw the presence of the Australians, British, Finns, Japanese, Singaporean, Philippinos and Thais. The Event is also getting increasing numbers of local Malaysians.
10. The organisation of this Event by MNS is to create awareness of a very unique natural phenomenon, to gather information and an educational programme for the young generations. The neutral topic pertaining nature bond us together and it can also be considered as an activity that unite us and also enhance international understanding. I was happy to be part of it.
No comments:
Post a Comment