Students learn to use a field guide to identify birds.
Photo shows MY Garden Birdwatch’s guide to common garden birds.
ONE of my initial assignments when I started work as a communications officer 13 years ago at the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) was to accompany an ornithologist from New Zealand on a coastal bird survey.
I knew roughly then what an ornithologist does – study birds. How and where I only found out when I finally met Kerry Jayne Wilson.
I suddenly found myself knee-deep in mangroves and peering through a pair of binoculars, feeling almost nauseous because I did not quite know how to handle the binoculars. I must admit I had yet to grasp the art of bird-watching.
How do you keep your eyes trained simultaneously on trees, wires and the sky and at the same time watch where you are going along a trail? It takes a lot of practice and patience.
In May 2010, I discovered bird-watching within my daily surroundings when my team from SBC organised a public talk on birding at the auditorium of the Kuching North City Commission building.
The resource persons were from the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Kuching Branch – Anthony Wong and Dr Ronald Orenstein.
To start the talk, I posed this question to the resource persons: “How can I differentiate or identify birds when all I can make out in the distance are black spots?”
Orenstein and Wong gave a very animated presentation on several characteristics that one should look out for when bird-watching, including the shape of the beak, colour of feathers and wingspan.
They also introduced the audience to a programme called MY Garden Birdwatch.
The programme is a non-profit project run by the Bird Conservation Council of the Malaysian Nature Society, which aims to create awareness of and encourage the conservation of birds and their habitats.
In a nutshell, MY Garden Birdwatch encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to observe their own backyards, which are often taken for granted, for birds.
It allows participants to record their observations of birds around them and participate in a nationwide survey of garden birds.
Recently, MNS Kuching Branch and SBC again got together to introduce birding and MY Garden Birdwatch to students of SMK Padawan. Why SMK Padawan?
It is located amidst a beautiful, green and lush village setting in the Padawan area.
It is only fitting that the students get to know their surroundings and the natural wonders around them a little better.
The school’s administrators have also put much effort into getting their students to be proactive in beautifying and maintaining their natural surroundings.
SBC facilitates the administrative and logistical arrangements for the sessions at the school under its Awareness and Appreciation Programme, while MNS Kuching Branch provides the expertise in the form of Orenstein, Vincent Wong and other experienced birders.
Vincent was among the audience in May 2010 when we first introduced the programme.
Today, he is an avid birder and an active member of MNS Kuching Branch and its birding group.
During the recent introductory session, a select group of students from the SMK Padawan nature club were introduced to the concept and basics of bird-watching.
The students then identified a site in their school where they thought birds are often spotted and confidently led the facilitators from SBC and MNS there.
The students were spot-on when, within an hour, the group spotted several types of common garden birds including the Olive-backed Sunbird, Starlings, Common House Sparrow and Spotted-necked Dove.
A bonus for the facilitators and students alike was a distant sighting of what Orenstein deemed to be a pair of Bat Hawks.
Upon checking with the students, we found out that the area where the pair was gracefully gliding is made up of limestone hills – the very type of habitat for these birds.
MY Garden Birdwatch is not limited to school children.
The programme allows anyone of any age, be it a beginner, or just someone with an interest in birds to observe and bird-watch from the comfort of their homes, offices or daily surroundings without having to head out specifically to popular birding sites.
More information on the basics of bird-watching and participating in this programme can be obtained from www.mygardenbirdwatch.com.
The Malaysian Nature Society
Established in 1940, the Malaysian Nature Society is the oldest scientific and non-governmental organisation in Malaysia. Our mission is to promote the study, appreciation conservation and protection of Malaysia’s nature heritage. Our 5,000-strong membership, spread across 12 branches nationwide, come from all walks of life, bound by a comment interest in nature. For further information on membership or our activities in Kuching contact us at mnskuchinggmail.com. For information on our activities in Miri contact Musa Musbah ([email protected]). You can also visit www.mns.org.my,
http://[email protected] or www.facebook.com/mnskb.