​   These are the Kuala Baram Wetlands, located in the northern-most part of Miri and close to the Sarawak-Brunei border. Based on years of birdwatching, nature visits and intermittent surveys by the Society and other parties, MNS Miri Acting Chair Musa Musbah says the wetlands host a wide range of shorebirds, and even globally endangered ones. 
   Nevertheless, pushing for IBA status means more surveys and research, which necessitates collaboration with various parties dedicated to the protection of Sarawak’s northern shores. That was what led to MNS Miri organising a two-day Shorebirds Watching Course at Kg Masjid, Kuala Baram at the close of 2018.
   Aimed at imparting knowledge about shorebirds, specifically in awareness and birdwatching ethics, and ultimately, appreciation of these birds and wetlands, the training comprised a briefing session on the first day and a field trip on the second, to Sungai Sembilan.

      Initially, the branch designed and printed is own simple pamphlet for handing out to the public. Since 2013, we have better graphics designed into the pamphlet and printed professionally. In 2015, after many years of the same format, we broke with tradition and moved the focus of the event – all the tents and activities, into the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve.
      Feedback on this is obviously mixed, with many people loving the more natural environment of the jungle while others preferred the festive spirit of the field.Now, although the Melaka State Government is still supporting the event in spirit, MNS has had to downgrade some of the features and has needed to rely on other sources of financial assistance. No longer do we have lavish opening ceremonies or loud music playing for most of the time. Nonetheless, it is a congenial way of meeting up with like- minded friends, old and new.
      Due to the strength of MNS Environmental Education and the Schools Nature Clubs (Kelab Pencinta Alam), ever more students are experiencing camps, guided nature treks, marine walks, mangrove ecology, slideshows and talks under Raptor Watch. 
      Also, there are a number of environmental based activities for families to enjoy, such as face painting, wildlife talks, nature painting workshops and recycling.
      On the more serious side, the monitoring of the migratory raptors and the protection of Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve gain importance with each succeeding year, as the research obtained is channelled to MNS partners at the regional (Asian Raptor Research & Conservation Network) and international (BirdLife International) levels.
      Raptor Watch also serves as a platform to create awareness on the need to protect rainforest and the adjacent mangrove areas as a valuable natural resource. Through Raptor Watch, MNS hopes to protect the incredible biodiversity supported by this rich environment.
      Finally, Raptor Watch would not have survived without the volunteers that  make it possible, mainly made up of MNS members. Apart from identifying and counting the raptors as they fly overhead and manning the booths during the event, the planning team consists of MNS members and staff coming together and working as one team. Many corporate staff and students, including international students, also helped to make the events successful.
      MNS is pleased that Raptor Watch is highlighted as a key tourism event for Malaysia, with the involvement of the State Government. As in previous years, Raptor Watch is organised by MNS in conjunction with the Melaka State Government and supported by various agencies, such as the Port Dickson and Alor Gajah District Councils; the Wildlife, Forestry, Marine Parks and Marine departments; Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor Education Departments; and Teluk Kemang Police Station.

 Text by Ahmad Ismail, Malaysian Nature Society President
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MALAYSIA IS very fortunate to be located in the tropical region, with good temperature and humidity suitable for flora and fauna all year round. It boasts more than 20,000 species of vascular plants, more than 300 species of mammals (30 of these endemic), 785 species of birds, and more than 240 species of amphibians, 560 reptiles and 2,000 fresh water and marine fishes.
     As one of the top 12 mega-biodiversity countries in the world, it is essential that Malaysia have a good conservation plan to ensure its flora and fauna are well protected in the wild. If their habitats  are not well protected and managed,  the decline in the number of animals  and species is a certainty. We have already seen this in our tigers, tapirs  and rhinos, the latter officially extinct  in the wild in Malaysia.
Most importantly, reserve forests, policies, laws and enforcement are not enough in conservation if the people are not educated on biodiversity protection and conservation. 
     Continuous education programmes is a must. The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) is very active in CEPA (communication, education and public awareness) activities through its KPA (Kelab Pencinta Alam, or School Nature Club) initiative. MNS has nearly 500 KPA schools with active teachers, and support from the Society’s 14 branches around the country.
     MNS is also fortunate to be the country partner for BirdLife International. Through this, it has led efforts in identifying and protecting Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), an internationally recognised standing of spots with resident or visiting birds that are globally threatened, are range- or biome-restricted, and by nature congregational.
   There are 55 IBAs in Malaysia (see full list on page 24). Among them are coastal areas in the migration pathway called “East Asian-Australasian Flyway” (EAAF). For example, thousands of birds that stop at the northern Perak coast of Kuala Gula are from 48 species of eight families, the majority from the Scolopacidae (such as sandpipers) and Charadriidae (plovers and lapwings) families. The soft muddy intertidal areas are suitable habitats for benthic organisms such as polychaetes, snails, shrimps, crabs and small fishes, an important diet for migratory shore birds on thousand-kilometre journeys. This unique phenomenon also attracts bird lovers and researchers, from both the local and international arena.

Amazing little flyers
The fact that these birds, some like the red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis) weighing only about 30 grammes, can fly some 25,000km every year across the continent is such a unique phenomenon. Some species can fly for three days, non-stop, covering 6,000km and reaching speeds of 60km/hour. Thus the necessary stops, and the need to find safe places with plenty of food and resting sites. Some of these birds lose 40% of their weight after long flights, and need to regain most of it before continuing journeys threatened by hot weather, storms, haze, extreme cold at night, poachers, habitat loss and chemical pollution.
     The appeal of some of these migratory species is their congregation, in vast numbers, especially among shorebirds. Usually feeding in the same locations, these different species do not compete for food, as they prey on different types of benthic organisms. The differences in bill shape and size, and their legs, make for interesting observation, which could also determine and predict their habitat and diet.
     The combination of intertidal mudflats, complex mangrove areas and morphology of birds makes these areas suitable for migratory shore birds, and for bird lovers. Through the identification of size and shape, colours and patterns of feathers, bills and legs, together with feeding habits, bird fanciers can do no better than productive mudflats near mangrove forests at low tide.