​   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.

Malaysia agreed to join the EAAF partnership in November 2012, and this pushes the need to raise awareness about migratory birds and the importance of IBAs to the local community, local authorities and related government agencies. Only through knowledge and awareness can development near IBAs be planned and managed to keep these areas healthy and contamination-free,
with enough food supply and, for coastal areas, protected from erosion.

In Kuala Gula, active agricultural activities inland, aquaculture, land clearing for development and surface runoff contribute to the sedimentation and chemical pollution of its intertidal zones and mangroves. These can cause an impact to the benthic organisms, while mangrove clearing for shrimp farms would surely affect migratory shore birds, as this forest serves as roosting areas and breeding places for marine life.
In Peninsular Malaysia, there are several other important areas for migratory shorebirds – Teluk Air Tawar in Penang (MY003); Sekinchan, Jeram, Kapar and Sungai Buloh in Selangor (MY011); and Johor’s Parit Jawa, Sungai Pulai, Kukup Island and Tanjung Piai (MY015). The latter three are important wetlands complexes and recognised as Ramsar sites, and could be adversely affected by mega-developments in the Johor Straits and active shipping activities in the Straits of Malacca. All these three Ramsar sites must be monitored and maintained regularly by local authorities and NGOs.

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.

Then there is the raptor migration phenomenon, captured each year at MNS’s signature Raptor Watch event in Tanjung Tuan, Melaka (MY012) and also in the peninsula’s northern states. (See articles on Raptor Watch and Taiping Raptor Watch on pages 28-31 and  33-35). Flying in their hundreds (once in the thousands), the Oriental honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) is the main draw as they cross the Straits of Malacca to and from the nearest point in Sumatra, Pulau Rupat, twice a year from and to their homes in the Northern Hemisphere. There’s also the chance to catch others in the raptor family, such as the Japanese sparrowhawk, Chinese goshawk, black baza as well as eagles and ospreys.
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In Malaysia’s other forests, there are the majestic hornbills, with 10 species being found in the Ulu Muda Forest Complex (MY002) and Belum-Temengor (MY007), and eight species in Borneo. Other pockets of green, even in cities and towns (for example in Kuala Lumpur’s Taman Tun Dr. Ismail and Kuantan), can also be home to these large birds, with a sighting of hybrids as well (see Discovery story on page 32). 

Aside from the aforementioned Raptor Watch, the Society’s activities include Pesta Sayap (Festival of Wings) in Kuala Selangor each October and the​ Hornbill Conservation Programme in Belum-Temengor, and all three welcome volunteer participation.